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WHITE PIGEONS HERALDED THE APPROACH OF VENUS 

(p. 164) 


ON A LARK 
TO THE PLANETS 

A SEQUEL TO 

“The Wonderful Electric Elephant ” 


BY 

FRANCES TREGO MONTGOMERY 

r* 

Author of 

“Billy Whiskers” “Billy Whiskers’ Kids” 
“Billy Whiskers, Jr.” 

Etc. 


Illustrated by WINIFRED D. ELROD 


AKRON, OHIO 

The Saalfield Publishing Co. 

New York 1904 Chicago 





UB«>»NV Of 0OW8RF3S! 
tVw Copies s?wNvwl 

OCT 1 1904 

(Xmyrtrtt Enfrv 
CLASS A XXo. No. J 

flff* 

L copy b " 

SSSHES*.!’ 1 "■•■ 'J> j-iii. — •*" 



Copyright, 1904, 

By THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY 



MADE BY 

THE WERNER COMPANY 
AKRON, OHIO 


LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO 


JULIET MARIE BREITUNG 







ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

White pigeons heralded the approach of Venus, . Frontispiece 


They found them enclosed in little jeweled acorns, ... 26 

Coming toward them were two beautiful beings, ... 50 

The giant raised his sword, 76 

They reminded one of the alchemists of old, 100 

They were soon gliding through canal after canal, . . . 126 
All the choruses are heavenly and harmonious, . 


150 



CHAPTEE I. 


Nearer and nearer toward strange and 
unexplored regions, higher and higher 
sailed the Wonderful Elephant, borne along 
by the great silken balloon. Harold and 
lone, the Prince and the little Princess slept 
peacefully. 

It was midnight by the hands of the clock, 
but the boundless aerial space through 
which they sped was lighted by myriads 
upon myriads of twinkling stars. On and still 
on through diamond-specked space the Ele- 
phant floated safely. Above, below, to right, 
to left, and round about in all directions, 
flashing, glittering globes of light were to be 
seen and of such dazzling hues and colors as 
had never been dreamed of by earth-bound 
mortals, The planet Neptune was wrapped 


12 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


in a bluish-green vapor; Uranus seemed a 
blinding white; Saturn emitted a yellow 
light; Jupiter shone like a glorious, crimson 
jewel; Mars blazed forth fiery red beams, 
while Mercury seemed bathed in a metallic 
green color. 

Our young travelers had watched these 
silent orbs until from sheer exhaustion they 
had fallen asleep. Suddenly, with a quick 
jerk, the balloon came to a dead halt. 

“ Mercy, what can be the matter !” said 
lone, springing up. 4 ‘Do you suppose that 
the balloon can’t carry us any higher?” 

“I am sure I don’t know,” answered Har- 
old, only half awake, “still it can’t be that, 
for the old man said he had visited Mars and 
several other planets. Something must be 
out of order, however. Wait until I look in 
his book of directions and find what ought 
to be done.” 

While Harold consulted the book, they all 
waited in great suspense, for what would be- 
come of them all should the balloon fail to 
carry them on ? Their anxiety was soon set 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


13 


at rest, however, for this is what Harold 
found in the book: 

“The atmosphere extends some forty 
miles above the earth, then an imaginary 
line is reached beyond which the forces of 
the earth cease to act ; while the Sun, by its 
great power of attraction, draws everything 
toward it with irresistible force. If you 
wish to cross this line and pass upward, use 
extra pressure and inflate the balloon to its 
utmost capacity. It will then carry you 
across and you will find that you are at- 
tracted toward the Sun, as before you were 
attracted toward the earth. Steer for any 
planet which you wish to visit and you can 
safely land upon it.” 

When Harold stopped reading there was 
dead silence for a few minutes, then he said, 
“Prince, will you kindly press that electric 
button at your right? We can then watch 
the balloon inflate and carry us over the 
line.” 

Slowly but surely, with much creaking 
and crackling of the silken cover, the balloon 


14 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

became fully inflated, while the little Prin- 
cess with strained, frightened eyes watched 
through one of the peep-holes, in mortal ter- 
ror lest at each creak it might burst and they 
be hurled to the earth. 

No such thing happened, but instead, the 
balloon gave a sudden bound and com- 
menced rising at an alarming rate of speed ; 
in fact, so fast were they approaching the 
Moon that they feared they would dash 
against one of its mountain tops. Harold 
found on consulting their time-indicator 
that they were traveling at a rate of speed 
equal to that of a ray of light, which is one 
hundred and sixty thousand miles per sec- 
ond. And it takes light moving at that rate 
of speed eight minutes and seven seconds to 
reach the earth. 

“Look, every one look!” cried lone. 
“What is that glistening, sparkling light 
that seems to ripple and flow like a stream 
of water?” 

“It is the Milky Way,” said Harold. 
“From the earth it looks like millions upon 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


15 


billions of stars sweeping a pathway 
through the heavens, but now that we are 
nearer, it seems like one continuous stream 
of silver fire.” 

“Isn’t it perfectly beautiful'?” exclaimed 
the girls in chorus. 

Looming up before them was what ap- 
peared to be a large red island that floated 
in the heavens as a pond lily floats upon the 
surface of water. It seemed to get its color, 
not from anything red upon the island itself, 
but from red rays of light that fell directly 
upon it from the planet Mars. 

Far in the distance floated other cloud- 
islands, each bathed in a color correspond- 
ing to the hue of the planet from which the 
rays came. They afterward found that 
these islands accompanied the different 
planets in their orbits much as our Moon 
does the earth. From the earth they have 
the appearance of stars, not islands. 

Look in what direction one would, count- 
less flashing rainbow islands could be seen 
whirling and twirling in fantastic manner 


16 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


like giant spinning wheels, forming geomet- 
ric figures of every conceivable design as 
they sped on their way, while through them 
all, in imposing, majestic lines swept the 
planets. 

“What do you say to our first visiting the 
island of Mercury, that being the one near- 
est the sun, and then taking the others in 
order?” said Harold. 

They all agreed to this plan. 

“Now, I am going to state a few astrono- 
mical facts, dull as you may find them, for 
they are things you all should know, and I 
think the girls have little conception of the 
millions of miles distant these planets are, 
or of their size and the time it takes for light 
from them to reach us. 

“Now, just out of curiosity I am going to 
ask you how large you think these planets 
are which you look at every night, and how 
far away they seem. I advise you to begin 
your guessing about Venus, as it is best seen 
from here.” 

“Well, let me see,” said lone; “Venus 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


17 


looks to be about the size of a cheese, but, of 
course, I know that in reality it is almost as 
large as the earth.’ ’ 

“Now, princess, what do you say?” 

“It looks to me to be about the size of a 
barrel-head and that it is twice as large as 
the earth.” 

“You are both wrong, and to show you 
how much you are in error, here are a few 
figures. Mercury is thirty-six million miles 
distant from the sun and it takes eighty- 
eight days to make one revolution in its or- 
bit round the sun, consequently its year is 
only eighty-eight days, instead of three hun- 
dred, sixty-five and one quarter days as ours 
is. Wouldn’t you like to live where the years 
were that long? Then you could have four 
Christmas Days where now you have but 
one,” said Harold. 

“Mercury,” he continued, “has the short- 
est year of all of the planets and Neptune 
the longest, its year being sixty thousand, 
one hundred and twenty-six days in length. 
Just think, if you lived upon Neptune you 


18 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

would have a Christmas once in about nine- 
teen years reckoned by our time. The length 
of year varies with the other planets — but 
enough of statistics. I know they are unin- 
teresting to girls. How would it please you 
to hurry on to Mercury’s Satellite Island to 
see what it looks like and if it is inhabi- 
tated?” 

“I am sure it is inhabited,” said the 
Prince, who was looking through the tele- 
scope, “for I can see tall figures moving 
along its shore.” 

Faster and faster sailed the balloon, drag- 
ging the Elephant after it until they were 
within a minute’s distance from the island. 
Bathed in beautiful clear, greenish-white at- 
mosphere, hundreds of people were stand- 
ing on the beach of the island, which is swept 
by mighty currents of air even as our sea 
shores are swept by the tides, and were 
watching the approach of the queer-shaped, 
clumsy object from an unknown world. A 
little jolt and the Elephant’s feet touched 
the shore. 


CHAPTEE II. 


At first our young people kept still and 
peered through the peep-holes to get a good 
view of the strangers, but for some mo- 
ments few were to be seen, as most of their 
number had darted away with lightning-like 
speed when the Elephant landed. To at- 
tempt to describe the swiftness with which 
these people moved and the ease with which 
they darted here, there and everywhere 
would be difficult. No wonder that they 
were quick, lively and elusive for they had 
strange little wings on their caps and san- 
dals, such as you have seen on statues of the 
winged Mercury. Tall and handsome with 
beautiful foreheads and quick flashing eyes, 
they fluttered and flew about like so many 
birds. 


20 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


Those who had disappeared soon returned 
and approached the Elephant, for they 
seemed fearless people after all, and then 
our young travelers slipped into their new 
white robes, which, by the way, I forgot to 
tell you about. They had found them en- 
closed in little jeweled acorns, which they 
thought were only watch-charms, but acci- 
dentally having touched a hidden spring in 
one, it opened and out fell a robe. They were 
fine as cobweb, soft as silk, changeable as the 
colors of a soap bubble and had the wonder- 
ful properties of making one invisible, giv- 
ing one any outward appearance one might 
wish to assume, and at the same time en- 
abling one to understand any language 
spoken within hearing. After donning these 
magic garments they found they were 
dressed like the little Mercurians, even to the 
wings on their heads and feet. They also 
found that they could understand all that 
was said by these sprightly people, for their 
language consisted entirely of short words 
and abbreviations. You must remember that 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


21 


these people are always in a hurry so have 
no time for long words or expressions. 
.When asked what their chief occupations 
were, one of the inhabitants answered that 
they consisted almost entirely in conveying 
messages between the earth and the planets. 
“We also watch over the people on earth 
upon whom the rays of Mercury fell at the 
moment of their birth. They possess the 
nature and characteristics that the influence 
of this planet is said to impart and so are 
our especial proteges .’ 7 

“What are some of these characteris- 
tics'?” said Harold. 

“When not afflicted; that is, when no ray 
from an evil planet crosses the Mercurian 
ray, Mercury gives one a quick, sprightly 
manner, fluent speech, quick wit, bright in- 
tellect, and fondness for change and travel. 
These characteristics are greatly modified 
when cross-rays intervene from evil planets, 
and then one is unreliable, a busybody, has 
a sharp unkind word or a sneer for every 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“Oh, my! I hope no bad ray crossed my 
Mercurian ray at birth, ” said lone. 

“You need not fear,” answered one of the 
island people; “you were born under a ray 
from Venus.” 

“Goodness! How do you know that?” 
asked lone. 

“By your face. We planet people can 
tell the moment we see a person what planet 
or planets influenced at birth.” 

“Can you really?” asked lone. 

The Islander continued, “One of you give 
me the year, month, day, and hour in which 
you were born and I will tell you your na- 
ture, disposition, abilities, and whether you 
are destined to be healthy or unhealthy too, 
and whether you will be what is termed 
lucky or unlucky.” 

Harold gave him his birth data and in re- 
turn was told that he was ambitious, ven- 
turesome, loving, kind, thoughtful, quick- 
witted, far-seeing, healthy, extremely lucky, 
and very fond of travel. 

That Harold was all of this his compan- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 23 

ions well knew, but bow a perfect stranger 
could tell by learning his date of birth and 
barely looking at him was more than they 
could at once understand. The stranger 
finally told them that he did so by the science 
called astrology, which all star-people be- 
lieve in, but which comparatively few people 
on earth seriously study today. It was held 
in great respect by the ancients, and even 
less than a hundred years ago, during Na- 
poleon’s life, many believed in the science 
and what it foretold for the future. Napol- 
eon and Henry of Navarre both believed in 
what they called their lucky star and would 
consult an astrologer before undertaking 
any important venture to see whether or not 
they would be successful. 

The self-appointed guide and informer of 
our young friends, having learned some- 
thing of their history, became deeply inter- 
ested in the party and asked if they 
would not like to visit the interior of the 
island to see just how its inhabitants lived. 
They gladly signified their pleasure to do so, 


24 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


and what was their joy to find that they 
could fly over the ground with their arti- 
ficial wings quite as easily as the native Mer- 
curians. 

As they sped along, many things were ex- 
plained to them concerning the various solar 
systems and especially the one we call ours. 
This they learned consists of the Sun, Moon, 
Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, Jupiter, 
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, with accom- 
panying satellites, besides innumerable 
fixed and moving stars ; and ours is only one 
of many solar systems. 

One of the things the guide pointed out 
filled the party with awe and wonder. Re- 
flected on the clear blue vault above them 
was a continuous moving panorama of ev- 
erything that was taking place upon the 
earth beneath them. Time and space seemed 
to be done away with. Did they wish to see 
what was transpiring in any country, all 
they had to do was to wish, and as if by 
magic the picture was above them. Simply 
by looking up they could see all they desired 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


25 


reflected there ; the country, its people, just 
what they were all doing; the whole living 
scene. As it happened a war was being 
waged in Asia. They could see the approach 
of the armies, could watch the progress of 
the battle, could almost count the number 
slain; and, still greater miracle, with the 
wish to know the cause of any war or of any 
event of past history, instantly came the 
knowledge— all was made clear. The pic- 
ture of the present could be made to fade at 
their will and that of the past to take its 
place on the vault above them or to float by 
on flying clouds panorama-like. 

When their surprise and amazement had 
partially subsided the Prince said, “Well, 
this is the most glorious way of learning his- 
tory that I ever heard of. If our schools on 
earth could make moving pictures of the 
leading events in history pass before the 
children’s eyes, they would be able to re- 
member much better than by sitting and 
committing to memory a lot of dry facts and 
dates.” And all agreed with him. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“Just for fun, let us wish to see what 
country we are over now,” said lone, and 
immediately they saw North America, the 
particular spot being Chicago. They all 
gazed with interest upon the City by the 
Lake with its high buildings, and hurrying, 
scurrying people. The cloud above floated 
slowly along displaying different parts of 
the city and its surrounding parks and 
suburbs. 

“Now, let us see Siam and find out what 
my brother is doing,” said the Prince, and 
immediately Chicago with its hustle and 
bustle faded from view and in its place stood 
the beautiful white palace of Siam. Pres- 
ently was revealed to them the Prince sit- 
ting in state in all his robes of splendor en- 
joying his power to the utmost, for unlike 
our Prince he was fond of pomp and splen- 
dor. 

“Let us see a picture showing what be- 
came of the Prince and Princess,” said Har- 
old. 

The next view presented the Elephant ris- 








THEY FOUND THEM ENCLOSED IN LITTLE JEWELED 

ACORNS (p. 20) 







ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


27 


ing from the earth, drawn heavenward by a 
huge balloon. 

“Well, this beats any detective agency I 
ever heard of,” said Harold. “You lose a 
thing or it disappears and all you have to do 
to find it is to wish to know where it is and 
there a picture of the object and place ap- 
pears before you.” 

“Are you now ready to go on and see 
something of our island*?” said the guide 
presently, who had been patiently waiting 
for them to recover from their amazement 
at all they saw. 

“Certainly, and we beg your pardon for 
keeping you waiting so long, but you can 
have no idea how fascinating we have found 
all these strange things.” 

“What is that bright yellow light we see 
surrounded by those smaller different col- 
ored lights and luminous belt?” asked the 
Princess. 

“That is the planet Saturn with its five 
satellites and luminous belt, and do you see 
floating under it, a little to the left, a dim, 


28 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


yellow light that looks like a reflection from 
that same planet ?” said the guide. 

“Yes,” they answered. 

“That is another island like the one we 
are on now, only it is under the rays of Sat- 
urn, as we are under the rays of Mercury. 
It is also called the Island of Knowledge, 
because the people of Saturn’s land are very 
intellectual. Now that you are up here you 
should visit all of our islands in turn and 
see for yourself what they and their people 
are like. First allow me to make a sugges- 
tion,” continued the guide. “Leave your 
heavy Elephant on our island, as you will 
have no use for the balloon until you wish 
to return to Earth. At present avail your- 
self of our means of locomotion.” 

“A splendid suggestion!” they all ex- 
claimed, “But how can we with our heavy 
bodies of flesh expect to fly around as you 
people do?” 

“Come with me and I will show you.” 

The guide secured a pair of scales and 
each one in turn having been weighed, they 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


29 


found that no one exceeded five pounds in 
weight. 

4 ‘Your scales must be wrong ,’ 9 exclaimed 
Harold. 

“Oh, no, it is only because your bodies 
become lighter in this atmosphere, though 
they look the same as ever. Your magic 
robes will bear you up while your wings are 
carrying you from place to place. 

“You will have to take our Flying Ma- 
chines to reach many places at great dis- 
tances from here, or else a boat on the Milky 
Way. I would advise you, after visiting all 
of our planet islands, to take what is called 
‘ The Circle Trip. ’ That is a trip in a beau- 
tiful boat up the Milky Way, which encir- 
cles the heavens like a belt. You are borne 
along on its silvery waters in little shell- 
like boats to whatever place you wish to visit 
along its shores, for you must know that 
both sides of the stream are lined with cities, 
towns, villages, meadows, hills, and moun- 
tains, where people live as Earth people do 
beside their seas and rivers,” 


30 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“How perfectly entrancing it would be to 
visit all of the cities and islands you have up 
here among the stars !” said lone. “And 
just think of it ! we on Earth when looking at 
the little twinkling stars above us imagine 
them to be only bright, silvery balls of light, 
and now we find them inhabited. Will won- 
ders ever ceased” 

“Not while you are up here,” said the 
guide. “They will go on increasing until 
you will feel as if your very brain would 
crack in trying to grasp them all. Now, if 
you don’t mind,” said he, presently, “we 
will rise a hundred feet or so above the sur- 
face here, then you can look down and view 
our home from above as we fly over it on our 
way to other islands.” 

As they floated along they noticed large 
quick-silver mines and also those from 
which emeralds and other green stones were 
taken, besides large quarries of red marble. 
The trees they passed were all short and had 
but few leaves upon them, but there were 
quantities of hazelnut bushes; loaded with 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


31 


nuts. All animals seemed to be fleet-footed, 
quick in motion, and sly like the weasel, fox 
and ape. The birds were not beautiful in 
plumage but the exceptional sweetness of 
their song rivaled that of our nightingale or 
thrush. 

4 4 Excuse me, but did you hear that pecul- 
iar whistle'?” asked the guide. 4 4 That is a 
signal for me to go to Venus with a message. 
Would you like to accompany me or would 
you prefer to wait here ¥ I will not say rest, 
for no one is ever tired in this atmosphere 
and it is only Earth people who understand 
the meaning of the word tired.” 

4 4 Oh, let us go by all means,” exclaimed 
Harold. 4 4 That is, if it would not inconven- 
ience you, for you would show us the way 
and we could be learning how to fly with 
our new wings and robes.” 

4 4 Oh, mercy,” exclaimed the little Prin- 
cess, 44 I will be afraid to follow you from 
this island out into space. Think of it! 
Should my robe fail to hold me up I would 
fall headlong as Lucifer did.” 


32 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“ Don’t be afraid, my dear Princess. We 
will stand on either side of you until you 
gain confidence in yourself, besides you must 
remember that you could not fall with this 
magic robe about you and your wings will 
move themselves. Of course, you could go 
by simply wishing yourself there, but then 
you would see nothing by the way, while, 
by going in this way and more slowly, you 
can enjoy all the marvelous sights about 
you.” 


i 


CHAPTER III. 


In the near distance they saw Venus, a 
superb sapphire globe called the Planet of 
Love and beyond it Mars with his fiery light ; 
then Saturn yellow as an orange ; Jupiter all 
crimson and purple, and farther still, 
Uranus scintillating with a vivid white 
light, while at an immeasurable distance 
Neptune was wrapped in changing shades 
of blue and green. 

The Earth party with their guide passed 
quickly by the little vari-colored stars and 
the larger ones which formed the different 
constellations or groups of stars through 
which they were traveling, such as the Great 
Bear, the Pleiades, Leo, and others too num- 
erous to mention, until they came to the sat- 
ellite island belonging to Venus. Here they 


34 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


landed and mingled with the inhabitants, 
first expressing the wish that they become 
like the planet natives so they could go about 
unnoticed. This wish their accommodating 
robes immediately made possible and then 
they stood dressed in loose flowing Greek 
robes, with sandals on their feet and hair 
dressed in a Psyche knot or in clustering 
curls confined by golden bands. 

“My! how becoming that costume is to 
you. You look like Venus herself come to 
life,” exclaimed the Princess to lone. 

“Well, I can return the compliment a 
hundredfold,” answered lone, for I never 
saw you look more lovely than you do now 
with your dark loose ringlets held in place 
by that band of gold.” 

“She certainly does look lovely enough to 
kiss,” exclaimed the Prince, “and I think I 
will steal one, for who has a better right?” 

“lone, you really look more beautiful 
than you did when we were married, and 
that I thought impossible,” laughed Harold. 

The boys had been so taken up admiring 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


35 


the girls that they had forgotten to wish 
their clothes changed until lone reminded 
them. 

“ Hurry and change your costumes for I 
am dying to see how you will appear in the 
ancient Greek dress with bare neck, arms, 
and legs and with your feet encased in high 
laced sandals.’ ’ 

When Harold’s ordinary American 
clothes were changed for those of ancient 
Greece, lone said, “Oh, Harold, you look 
like a young gladiator with your well-de- 
veloped muscles and strong round throat. 
As for the Prince he is a perfect Adonis. 
Don’t you think so, Princess'?” 

Before the latter could answer their Mer- 
curian guide said, “You certainly are a fine- 
looking quartette. I doubt if even on this 
island we find any who surpass you in beau- 
ty or in strength, though this is the land 
where the perfection of physical beauty is 
supposed to be found.” 

“We thank you for the compliment,” said 
lone. 


36 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


This conversation took place in a beautiful 
park where winding paths led to sylvan re- 
treats ; where miniature lakes were studded 
with pleasure-boats, sailing slowly along 
filled with happy, laughing people; where 
flowers of every hue and color filled the air 
with sweet, spicy perfumes ; and where birds 
of endless variety and color of plumage 
bathed in the sparkling fountains or flitted 
and sang among the branches of the trees. 
Coming toward them, hand in hand along 
one of the many footpaths, were two beauti- 
ful beings accompanied by little flying cu- 
pids who at times lighted on their shoulders, 
then again on their heads, or flew about 
chasing each other, cooing like so many 
white doves. 

“Is not that a pretty family group V y 
asked the guide. “The two who are walking 
hand in hand are husband and wife while 
the little cupids are their children. All chil- 
dren on this island have wings and at night 
sleep in huge nodding flowers which fold 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


37 


their petals about them and sway to and fro 
until they are lulled to sleep.’ ’ 

At this moment the two approached and 
the guide introduced them to the young 
strangers. Having cordially welcomed the 
Earth party to the island, they invited them 
to a four o’clock tea at their home and also 
for a sail on the lake to which they were now 
on their way. 

Our young people gladly availed them- 
selves of the courtesy extended to them and 
after walking a short distance through a 
shady wood they came to the bank of a 
gleaming blue lake whose rippling waters 
flashed back the sparkling sunbeams, and 
on whose surface floated unique and dainty 
pleasure-boats. Into one of these they 
stepped and soon were sailing quietly 
along, enjoying both the refreshing breezes 
and the beauty of the scene. The shore line 
was dotted with villas which looked like 
fairy-palaces, so exquisite were they in col- 
oring and design, while back of them rose 
purple-hued hills, a most effective back- 


38 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


ground. While they sailed our young peo- 
ple told their new friends something of 
themselves and their experiences while trav- 
eling in space. All was listened to with in- 
tense interest. When they had finished tell- 
ing about the magic power of their wishing- 
robes, their entertainers asked if they would 
mind exhibiting themselves in their native 
costumes. 

‘ 4 Certainly not,” said lone, “we would be 
delighted to do so, but our garments will 
seem strange and perhaps even ridiculous to 
you. If they do, you may laugh as much as 
ever you like for I assure you we will not be 
offended in the least.” 

“One, two, three. Presto change,” said 
Harold, and there stood four oddly attired 
people looking unlike anything their Venus 
friends had ever seen or dreamed of. They 
might have been mistaken for figures of wax 
shown in a museum but that lone laughed 
outright when she saw the wide-open eyes 
and astonished expressions on the faces of 
their friends. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


39 


“Well, how do you like our native gar- 
ments ?” she asked. “You know that the 
Prince and the Princess live on one conti- 
nent of the Earth, while Harold and I live 
on another and that accounts for the differ- 
ences in our style of dress.’ ’ 

“Which style do you prefer?” asked the 
Princess of the beautiful little lady from 
Venus. 

“Oh, yours,” she replied. “Your attire 
is much more artistic and natural than the 
other more sombre garb. Your white 
blouse, blue velvet jacket embroidered with 
gold, soft silken sash, golden anklets, and 
slippers turned up at the toes, all are har- 
monious and beautiful I think, while the 
white turban of the Prince and his white 
skirts held in place by that knotted sash, 
and the dagger at his side, all are more to my 
taste than those queer-looking narrow bags 
which you (turning to Harold) wear, and 
which you call trousers or than that high, 
stiff starched garment you call a shirt. How 
you can breathe one minute in it is more 


40 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


than I can tell, while I should think the col- 
lar would saw your ears off.” 

At this they all laughed for they could 
well understand how funny and absurd their 
costumes must look to any one used only to 
loose robes and soft, clinging draperies. As 
for lone, the Islanders wondered why she 
did not break in two, locked in her steel 
girdle as they called her corsets. And her 
French-heeled shoes! They were the limit 
of absurdity and how she managed to walk 
and not fall on her nose at every step she 
took was more than they could understand. 
The planet people had a great deal of fun 
over each separate garment and seemed to 
enjoy inspecting them so much that our 
young friends decided to give them a sur- 
prise and at the same time to show them 
sights which no native of Venus, alive or 
dead, had ever before witnessed. They were 
told to look overhead and there soon ap- 
peared reproduced there, panorama-like, the 
different peoples of the earth. In this way 
could be seen the native costumes of all 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


41 


Earth people from the Chinaman to the 
fashionable French woman. 

The Venusians clapped their hands with 
delight as the different views passed before 
them for they had not known that there 
were people who looked or dressed so unlike 
themselves. 

On their way to the Villa where they were 
to take tea, the Venusians asked our friends 
if they would not like to walk through the 
garden where their little cupid babies slept, 
while they looked to see that they were all 
tucked in their flower-beds warm and safe 
for the night. “Over each baby a white 
pigeon keeps watch so that if anything is 
wanted or if they cry out, the bird flies to 
our window, taps, and we immediately come 
to see what is needed.’ ’ 

“Oh, may we have just one peep?” cried 
the girls, as they leaned over a large white 
rose in which was curled up fast asleep a 
tiny little cupid with light, curly hair. 

“You see,” explained the mother, “the 
little blonde cupids sleep in white flowers 


42 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


while the brunettes repose in red ones. In 
this way it is easy to distinguish them. Ev- 
ery evening at sundown they fly to their par- 
ticular flower and cuddle down for the 
night, while a gentle breeze sways the flow- 
ers and nightingales sing until they are 
lulled to sleep.” 

i ‘ What would I not give for one of the lit- 
tle dimpled darlings,” said lone. 

“And I, too,” added the Princess. “I 
should love to have one all my own to hug 
and kiss.” 

“Some day a stork or an angel may bring 
you one,” said the little cupid’s mother, 
“for I know they often take babies to 
Earth.” 

The Villa looked more like a dainty sum- 
mer-house than a place in which to live, for it 
was all open windows, doors and verandas. 
The sun shone in all day and only soft, warm 
breezes murmured through it at night. Af- 
ter a dainty repast, our travelers said “good- 
night” and “good-bye” to their charming 
and hospitable friends and then wished 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


43 


themselves on the Satellite Island of Mars 
and here they immediately found them- 
selves. 


CHAPTER IV. 

After the soft blue atmosphere of Venus 
Island, what a contrast was felt on Mars. 
Here everything was fiery red, even the 
faces of the inhabitants took on a flame col- 
or, just as the people and scene in a theatre 
are colored by a red spot-light thrown upon 
the stage. But the coloring round about was 
not as great a contrast as were the disposi- 
tions of the people. The Martians, our 
young friends soon discovered, were quick- 
tempered, argumentative, impatient, and 
quarrelsome ; while the Venusians were mild, 
sweet-tempered, easy-going, kind, affection- 
ate, and peace-loving. The Martians were 
so fiery and cross that the little Princess 
wanted to go away immediately, she was so 
afraid of them. She was finally persuaded 


$ 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


45 


to remain, however, for the Prince and Har- 
old were anxious to see what kind of fire- 
arms these people used and, as they devoted 
their whole lives to warfare, how well they 
were versed in military affairs. 

Until now our young people had been in- 
visible, but they decided to don coats of 
mail and otherwise costume themselves as 
the Martians, so as to be able to freely min- 
gle with them unnoticed and unknown. On 
every side one heard the clash of arms and 
the rattle of musketry. Even the little chil- 
dren could be seen playing at war with toy 
cannons and pistols. 

“What can all this commotion be about V 9 
exclaimed Harold. 

“It means that they are preparing for one 
of their frequent battles, for you must know 
that they are always quarreling or fighting 
with some one. At present, they are at war 
with the inhabitants who live on the oppo- 
site side of this island. If you would like, 
we can go to the summit of yonder hill and 
from that point look down upon the con- 


46 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


tending parties, for the battle, I hear, is to 
be fought on the plain at its foot,” said the 
Prince. Disputes and national problems 
are not settled here as they are on Earth. 
When any vexed question arises, a certain 
number of men are chosen on each side. 
Drawn up in lines opposite and facing each 
other, at a given signal the attack is made, 
and the contending parties fight until one or 
the other side is conquered. The victorious 
men then arrange the disputed matter to 
suit themselves. Neither side is allowed to 
call out any more men than those first 
chosen. This is a great saving of lives when 
compared to the manner in which men are 
sacrificed upon Earth in time of war. 

Just then, stepping aside, lone bumped 
into a man who happened to be passing at 
the time, and she heard him mutter, 
“Clumsy! Can’t you look where you are go- 
ing so you won’t run into a person ¥” 

“What a nice amiable husband that man 
would make,” said lone to the Princess. 

Presently two men passed, talking in 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


47 


loud voices and one said, “I tell you it is no 
such thing. You are an idiot for thinking 
so.” 

And his companion replied, “What did 
you say ? I ’ll allow no man to insinuate that 
I am a liar or to call me an idiot,” and be- 
fore the girls knew what was happening, the 
man who had first spoken was lying at their 
feet felled by a blow from his angry com- 
panion. 

This is only one instance of the quarrel- 
ing and fighting that they heard and saw on 
all sides. Every one seemed touchy, cross, 
overbearing and as if carrying a chip upon 
his shoulder for the express purpose of hav- 
ing some one knock it off and thus give 
provocation for a dispute or fight. 

“Come on, lone,” called Harold, “we are 
going to the top of the hill, for the battle is 
about to begin. Did you hear the bugle 
call?” 

“Oh, you bloodthirsty boy! How can you 
wish to see men kill each other? You may 
go ; I do not wish to see the battle, and while 


48 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


you are there the Princess and I will wan- 
der about to see how these people live and 
what their homes are like,” said lone. 

The girls, by means of their magic wish- 
ing robes, became invisible and found them- 
selves in front of one of the Martian homes 
which at first sight appeared like a huge 
bee-hive with openings at equal distances all 
around. Through one of these openings an 
electric wagon passed, loaded with packages, 
boxes and cans. The labels showed the con- 
tents to be condensed foods of all kinds. 
They afterward found that these people 
were partial to this kind of foods because 
they do away with the tedious preparation 
and long time required to serve, which the 
food of Earth people makes necessary, be- 
sides they sustain life and make one much 
stronger and healthier than the more hearty 
meals which Earth mortals indulge in. Much 
of the food that Earth people eat is a detri- 
ment to digestion and health and is often 
only eaten because of fondness for its taste 
rather than for its nutritive properties, or 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


49 


for the sociability it affords one to be at a 
table dining with congenial friends or asso- 
ciates. From the openings in the building, 
covered passage-ways ended in small, two- 
storied outhouses which were the co-operat- 
ive kitchens, laundries, dairies, cold-storage 
rooms, etc., and over these the servants lived. 
In the second story of the main building over 
the openings before mentioned, were the 
apartments of the Martians. Everything 
on the island, from business to the care of 
children, was carried on through co-opera- 
tion. They found the interior of the build- 
ing complete in all of its appointments and 
furnished as elegantly as the most fastidious 
lover of apartments could desire. 

“Well, I am not fond of apartments, 
boarding-houses, hotels, or abodes of any 
kind where several families live together. 
As soon as different families share the same 
building it loses its home-feeling and atmos- 
phere, while no dwelling is large enough to 
hold more than one comfortably/ ’ said lone. 

“Let us now see how the battle is pro- 


50 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


gressing,” said the Princess. lone was 
finally persuaded and wishing themselves 
on the summit of the hill, what was their 
surprise and dismay on arriving there to 
find no one in sight ! 

“What do you suppose can have become 
of the boys*?” cried the Princess in alarm, 
then noticing lone’s eyes fastened on the 
battlefield in horrified wonder, she turned to 
look in the same direction and nearly fainted 
when she saw Harold and the Prince, each 
engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with 
giant Martians, while all around were 
strewn the bodies of the dead and dying ; for 
few of the many who had started out so val- 
iantly a few hours before survived the first 
onslaught of the enemy. 

While they watched, Harold caught his 
foot, stumbled, then fell and the giant raised 
his sword to pierce his body, but instead of 
passing through the form of his adversary, 
the sword was buried to its hilt in the earth 
at his feet, for nobody was there. The giant 
rubbed his eyes, looking dazed and incredu- 



COMING TOWARD THEM WERE TWO BEAUTIFUL BEINGS 

(P- 3 6 ) 






% 

• ' 



































ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


51 


lous, but still saw no one who even resembled 
his late antagonist. I suppose you all know 
why this was ? Harold had just thought of 
his magic robe and wished himself invisible 
and at the top of the hill. He reached there 
just in time to catch lone in his arms for she 
had fainted. The last thing she saw had 
been the upraised arm of the Martian, and 
the sun shining on the glittering sword as 
it descended to put an end to Harold’s life. 

But the Prince! What had become of 
him? Being an expert swordsman he had 
killed his antagonist, a man twice his own 
size and weight, but agility and swiftness 
of thrust had won the day against size and 
weight. His fencing lessons in the Palace 
at home had served him in good stead. He, 
too, now used his wishing robe and reached 
Harold and the girls just as lone was reviv- 
ing and asking how in the world they ever 
reached the battlefield and got mixed up 
with the Martians. 

“Well, it happened in this way,” said the 
Prince. “Harold and I became so excited 


52 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


watching the fight that we could scarcely 
keep out of it and when we saw the side we 
were in sympathy with losing ground, we 
wished ourselves in the midst of the fray 
with broadswords in our hands, so of course 
the first thing we knew we were there fight- 
ing -like the native Martians. But where is 
our guide ?” 

“I am sure I do not know. We left him 
with you,” said lone. 

“ Yes, I know, but the last I saw of him he 
was standing beside us watching the battle.” 

“You don’t suppose that he too engaged 
in the fight, do you*?” asked the Prince. 

“But if he did, where is he now, for all are 
dead but the one man whom Harold failed 
to kill,” said lone. 

“Goodness, gracious, he may be killed 
too,” cried the Princess. “You had better 
go and look for him.” 

“I can find him better by staying here 
than by running all over the island to find 
him. Have you forgotten our ability to 
have people and scenes pictured in the sky 
above us^” 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


53 


“Yes, I had,” said lone. 

“Well, now I wish that we may see where 
he is.” 

They all looked up and on the blue vault 
above them saw the reflection of their guide 
at the corner of a street, defending himself 
against two burly Martians twice his size. 
One glance was enough. Both boys disap- 
peared at once, their wish being to be with 
the guide. The girls sat still and watched the 
panoramic changes as the boys and their 
guide joined in the fight. The trouble had 
come about in this way : The Martians recog- 
nizing the Mercurian guide by his quick, 
agile movements and knowing that all Mer- 
cury people had magic robes, had tried to 
steal the acorn containing his wishing-robe. 
When the boys arrived on the scene, the 
Martians were soon routed. 

After this exciting escapade our party de- 
cided that the strenuous life of Mars was 
not to their liking, so together they resumed 
their journey, starting for the next island in 
order. 


CHAPTER W 


“Do you see that crimson ball in the dis- 
tance V 9 asked the .guide, if That is Jupiter, 
the planet whose Satellite Island we are now 
about to visit and I am sure you will admire 
its inhabitants very much. ” 

Such handsome people ' as these Jupitar- 
ians proved to be ! Far beyond their great- 
est expectations. They " were all tall and 
commanding in appearance, with features 
like chiselled marble so perfect were they in 
outline. With their classic brows, straight 
noses, and clear, luminous eyes they one and 
all looked like gods and goddesses. Their 
manners were dignified yet courteous in the 
extreme, and in a way they impressed one as 
being rather haughty and reserved. 

When our young people landed on the is- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


55 


land they found themselves in the middle of 
a great square on three sides of which were 
magnificent buildings dedicated to the arts 
and sciences, over the colossal doorways of 
which were symbolical mythological figures. 

“It is an excellent idea to have them all 
here together facing the square with its 
fourth side opening into a beautiful park 
containing fountains and marble statues, 
also representing the gods and goddesses as- 
sociated with the arts and sciences as well as 
those symbolical of the peaceful and just 
natures of this island’s inhabitants,” said 
Harold. “I imagine the building before us 
with the broad, sweeping stairway must be 
the Hall of Justice, for I see mythological 
figures in marble over the doorway illus- 
trating Justice and Mercy. 

“And the building on our right must be 
their Palace of Art for it is embellished with 
figures holding harps, flutes, horns, and 
various musical instruments.” 

“Suppose we keep on our invisible robes 


56 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


until we have made a tour of all these won- 
derful buildings, ” said lone. 

“And I suggest,’’ said the Princess, “that 
lone and I go to the Palace of Art while you 
two boys go with Mercury, to listen to the 
debates in the Hall of Justice, for I am sure 
lone and I will not care for the debates no 
matter how fine they may be.” To this the 
boys assented and all agreed to meet in two 
hours’ time at the fountain where they were 
now standing. 

When the girls first entered the Palace of 
Art they had a surprise for they saw coming 
toward them three beautiful smiling women 
with hands outstretched to greet them. They 
involuntarily stepped back, when they re- 
membered, all at once, that they were in- 
visible, and on looking closer they found 
that the women were but wonderfully life- 
like paintings. 

“Well!” exclaimed lone, “I never had 
such a start in my life and even yet I can 
scarcely believe my eyes for there is no 
frame to mar the effect and the perspective 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


57 


is so perfect that you imagine they are liv- 
ing, moving people coming to welcome you 
to the Palace.” 

“We must have the boys come here so we 
can fool them, too,” said the Princess. ‘ ‘I 
have heard of portraits being so perfect 
that they were called 4 living pictures,’ but 
these paintings surpass any ever seen on the 
Earth. Look! all around us are prancing 
horses, wild animals devouring their prey, 
and numberless pictures so realistic that I 
am actually afraid I shall be trampled upon 
or devoured. The babies, too, dimpled and 
smiling are so life-like they make one feel 
that they will roll off the canvas and get 
hurt in some way.” 

The pictures proved so fascinating to the 
girls that they forgot how fast the time was 
passing until they heard steps behind them 
and, turning, saw that the boys had come to 
look for them. 

“We have been waiting for you and 
thought perhaps you were lost,” said Har- 
old. 


58 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“No, we did not get lost, but we were so 
absorbed with the paintings that we forgot 
all about time and our appointment with 
you, but we are so glad you came for us for 
we want you to meet three beautiful women 
who welcome all strangers who enter this 
building,” said lone, winking at the Prin- 
cess, for though they were invisible to the 
world at large, they could see each other at 
all times. 

“But, perhaps you have seen them al- 
ready,” said the Princess. “By which door 
did you enter?” 

“We came through the passage-way that 
leads from the Hall of Justice,” said the 
Prince. 

“Then you did not meet them, so come 
with us,” said the Princess. “But first drop 
your magic robes and anproach them in your 
native costume.” 

The girls led the boys around until they 
faced the picture and lone was nearly suf- 
focated with laughter when she saw Harold 
tip his hat and extend his hand to one of the 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


59 


ladies while the Prince bowed almost to the 
ground. The Princess also laughed merrily 
at the astonished expression on the faces of 
the boys when they discovered their mis- 
take. 

Later on Mercury said, “ Before you leave 
the island I want you to see the Palaces 
these people live in and the superb way in 
which they are furnished, to say nothing of 
the magnificent grounds that surround 
them.” 

“You lead and we will gladly follow,” 
said the young people. 

Talk of Aladdin’s Palace ! It was a paper- 
doll’s house compared to these enchanting 
palaces built of snow white marble and crys- 
tal. Think of it! One palace was built of 
emerald-colored, crystal-clear glass cut in 
prisms joined in dainty designs to represent 
flowers and leaves. Being cut in this man- 
ner, no one could look in to get a peep at the 
occupants; but the sunbeams found their 
way throughout, the rooms and corridors re- 
flecting an exquisite golden-green light. 


60 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


This whole palace was held together by wide 
bands of purest gold, which took the place 
of our woodwork, while it was furnished 
throughout with the corresponding mag- 
nificence of its structure; for instance, one 
drawing-room was furnished in white vel- 
vet with jewel-set chair-frames of gold; an- 
other in rare satin and velvet, while for pic- 
tures, mirrors, and statuary, it had no equal 
on Earth or any of the other planets, for the 
Jupiter people love to a marked degree 
splendor and magnificence. 

There were many of these rainbow pal- 
aces all different in design, for it is against 
the law for one to copy another in any way— 
from matters of dress to those of homes and 
furnishings, each must have an original de- 
sign. In this way there is an opportun- 
ity for great display of taste and individ- 
uality and one can tell at a glance from the 
outside of a person’s home how rich the 
owner is in ideas, for the buildings and sur- 
roundings will reflect his nature and tastes. 

At the summit of a hill they saw a palace 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


61 


shining so brightly in the sunlight that it 
looked like the sun itself. It was built of 
yellow topaz. Another of sapphire sur- 
rounded by green foliage looked like a blue- 
bell hid in the woods, and so on until one 
could not tell which he thought the most 
magnificent or desirable. 

“Listen! I hear music!” exclaimed the 
Princess. 

“What you hear,” said Mercury, “are the 
church bells that ring at sunrise and at sun- 
set. Are they not the sweetest-toned chimes 
you ever listened to?” 

“Indeed they are,” replied the Prince. 

When the music of the bells had ceased, 
Mercury told them it was time to start for 
Saturn as it would take some time to reach 
it even with their magic robes, as it was out 
in space some seven hundred and eighty mil- 
lion of miles away from the sun and they 
were only part way there, Jupiter being but 
four hundred and twenty-six million miles 
distant from the sun. 

“As we travel there, Harold will tell you 


62 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

what a surprise we have for you,” said the 
Prince. 

“Oh, how nice, for if there is anything I 
enjoy it is a surprise,” said the Princess. 
“I hope it is a nice one, though,” she added. 

‘ ‘ Of course it is, or we would not tell you, ’ ’ 
said the Prince. 

“Do let’s hurry and get off, then,” said 
lone, “for I, too, am anxious to know what it 
is. I am simply dying with curiosity.” 

“I never knew a girl to die so often and 
come to life so easily,” said Harold in a 
teasing voice. 

“I suggest that we take hold of hands so 
that we can keep close together,” said Mer- 
cury, “if you people talk while we are trav- 
elling; otherwise, some one will lag behind 
and lose part of the story.” 

His suggestion was followed and soon all 
found themselves floating smoothly and rap- 
idly through space. 

“Now for the surprise!” laughed lone. 
“I can’t wait patiently any longer. I am 
not fond of waiting for things.” 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 63 

“In the first place, who do you think lives 
on the island we are going to visit after we 
take a look at Saturn? Some one in whom 
you are interested ?” queried Harold. 

“Why, no one, you foolish boy,” said 
lone. “Why do you stop to tease me when 
you know the Princess and I are all on tip 
toe to know your surprise?” 

“But I am not teasing this time,” said 
Harold. “Guess just once.” 

“Oh, I can’t,” said lone. 

“Your father and mother,” said the 
Princess, “or else lone’s.” 

“No, no relation to any of us, but a rela- 
tive to some one we are all indebted to for 
most of the pleasant things that have ever 
happened to us.” 

“I know! I know!” cried lone. “Some 
one who is related to our wise man, the one 
who invented the Elephant.” 

“You are right, lone. That was a good 
guess.” 

“Do tell us about him,” cried both girls 
at the same time. 


64 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“Well, it happened in this way. We were 
sitting in the gallery in the Hall of Justice 
when an old man got up to speak. He was 
enough like our old man to be a twin broth- 
er, (which he proved to be) and I cried out, 
‘There is the wonderful old man who left me 
the Elephant !’ Mercury said that could not 
be as this old man had not left the island for 
a century as he could not get away, being at 
the head of the wise and learned men here 
and President of the Island. 

“ ‘I can’t help it,’ I said. ‘If you don’t be- 
lieve me just look at this picture I carry 
here in my watch and see if the man speak- 
ing is not its exact counterpart even to hair, 
eyes, and beard ; besides, the voice is exactly 
the same.’ 

“Mercury looked and said, ‘The picture 
is certainly a perfect likeness of the man on 
the platform.’ Then he told me to sit still 
and when the session was over we would go 
and speak to him and find out if he were 
really the one who left the Elephant, or if 
he were a relative of the man. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


65 


“This we did and the old man met us very 
graciously and told us that he was a twin 
brother to our old man. ‘ And a wonderful 
old fellow he is,’ continued the sage. ‘I 
never saw his equal in inventive genius. He 
originates things and then goes to the earth 
to try them. His hobby is electricity and 
finding out the secrets of nature, while mine 
is to bring peace and administer justice, as 
well as to promote the arts and sciences. I 
never go to the earth but remain here and 
plan, sending my deptuies to carry out my 
ideas. ’ 

“ ‘In speaking,’ said I, ‘you said is in- 
stead of was, do you mean to tell me that 
your brother and my wonderful old man is 
alive still?’ 

“ ‘Certainly, I do. You thought he was 
dead when he fell back on his pillow, but he 
had merely fainted and after a time when 
he recovered his senses he found himself, so 
he said, on a bed of spruce bows, shut in a 
cave. He knew immediately what had hap- 
pened and that you had buried him, think- 


66 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


ing him dead, so he lay still for a time until 
the coolness of the cave revived him, then 
having his wishing-robe with him, he wished 
himself back on his beloved planet Uranus, 
and there he is now, safe and well. If your 
travels take you that distance, to that most 
wonderful planet which all inventors love, 
you will find him there and I am sure he will 
be delighted to see you all.’ 

“Now, what do you think of that for a sur- 
prise?’ ’ asked Harold when he had finished 
his story. 

“It certainly is a pleasant one,” said lone, 
“and of course we will go to Uranus, no mat- 
ter how far it is. I would not miss it for 
worlds, would you, Princess?” 

“Neither would we,” cried the boys, “and 
we will go there as soon as we have seen Sat- 
urn. We may remain on Saturn for some 
time though, for they say it is different from 
the other planets and that there is more 
change and variety there than on the other 
planets.” 

“How is that?” cried lone. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


67 


* ‘Well, you see it has different colored 
belts on its surface corresponding to our 
zones, and a luminous flat ring that sur- 
rounds or encircles it about where the equa- 
tor does the earth, besides it has satellites 
that belong to it as the Moon belongs to your 
Earth,” said Mercury. 

“Who knows but that different colored 
races of people live on those different 
belts'?” said Harold. 

“I say, let’s go and find out,” said the 
Prince. 

“Agreed,” they all said and, wishing 
themselves on Saturn, our travelers found 
themselves on the island itself instead of its 
accompanying Satellite Island, for it seemed 
to hold out so many inducements in the way 
of its belted surface, rings, and seven satel- 
lites. 


CHAPTER VI. 


Our young people landed on the bank of 
what appeared to be a broad river ; so broad 
that one could just discern the opposite 
bank by a faint, blue line. Along this river 
stretched house after house of peculiar de- 
sign, none more than one story high and 
each and every one extending over so much 
ground that it gave the appearance of a lit- 
tle village connected by long and short halls. 
The inside they found to be furnished with 
only useful things— stiff, unhomelike furni- 
ture, and no upholstered or rocking chairs 
so dear to the American heart. 

“What homely, sour-looking faces they 
have, and long noses, thin lips, scant hair 
and small suspicious-looking eyes,” said 
lone. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 69 

“I really don’t feel like stopping here, I 
feel so depressed and everything looks so 
uninviting,” said the little Princess. 

Mercury explained that Saturnian people 
were strict disciplinarians and also very con- 
ventional; and that they did not believe in 
allowing the young to sit in easy chairs for 
this encouraged a lounging, lazy habit most 
unbecoming. 

Our young people pitied the children who 
lived here. They had to sit erect in stiff- 
backed chairs so as to counteract the ten- 
dency which all Saturn children have to 
stoop or lean forward. They also are com- 
pelled to go from one task to another with 
clock-like regularity while even their games 
are governed by rule or stated hours which 
seemed to take all interest and freedom out 
of them. 

“I am afraid I should want to drown my- 
self in the river if I had to live here and en- 
dure this tread-mill existence,” said Har- 
old. 

The walls of most rooms in the houses 


70 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


were lined with rows upon rows of books. 
There were schools and schools and schools ; 
while lessons and lessons and lessons were be- 
ing studied everywhere, recitations being pre- 
sided over by tall, lank-looking, stoop-shoul- 
dered professors with straight, black hair, 
spectacled eyes, and stern visages. This con- 
stant study and grind made the children 
look older than their years warranted, while 
their heads were all too large to be supported 
by their poor, thin, shrunken-looking little 
bodies. Most children begin their studies at 
three years of age on this island. 

“I have seen enough. Have you, Prin- 
cess ?” said lone. 

6 6 Yes, and more than enough,” answered 
she. 

Mercury now mentioned that there was a 
most interesting, novel part of the island 
called “the Black Belt,” which received this 
name from the color of the ring which encir- 
cles Saturn at this part. There are seven 
openings into this region called “The Grates 
of Hades.” These openings resemble the 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


71 


mouths of caves from which red lights shine,, 
reflected from the inner fires. 

“If you wish to visit the interior of this 
planet, now is your opportunity,’ ’ said Mer- 
cury. i ‘ A guide will be sent with us and will 
insure our safe return.” 

Of course the boys were wild for this ad- 
venture but the girls were afraid to go until 
assured over and over again that there was 
absolutely no danger and that they could re- 
turn whenever they wished. So at last they 
started in a most curious air-ship built like 
a bird which was named “The Sky Lark.” 
It could be made to fly as a bird and to alight 
or to arise in the air with equal ease. They 
all enjoyed the ride immensely, especially 
when they would alight on some huge tree 
which looked like the Banyan tree of Asia. 
Travelling in the air gave them a splendid 
chance to see all beneath them and the is- 
land looked very beautiful from this height 
because of its numberless bodies of water 
sparkling in the distance. 


72 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“Who invented this novel bird?” asked 
Harold. 

“The most wonderful and experienced in- 
ventor that now lives,” said Mercury. “He 
is centuries old but by the aid of a magic 
liquid he keeps himself alive and he is al- 
ways inventing or harnessing nature’s 
forces to do his bidding until there is no tell- 
ing when he will stop. One of the most 
unique things he ever invented was an ar- 
tificial elephant so like life that even live 
elephants themselves were deceived and 
thought it alive like themselves. This ele- 
phant could travel on land, in the water or 
on its surface, with the speed of the wind.” 

“Stop, stop!” cried Harold. “What be- 
came of that elephant and its inventor?” 

“Well,” resumed the guide, “he took a no- 
tion to go to Earth, taking the elephant 
with him and I have never heard what he af- 
terwards did with it, but he is back again at 
his beloved laboratory on Uranus working 
incessantly on another invention that will as- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


73 


tonish the universe, so he says, when he com- 
pletes it.” 

“And what is it to be?” cried the Prince. 

“Another air-ship, but of such large pro- 
portions and ease of handling that few peo- 
ple can even imagine anything as perfect.” 

“I am sure you would like to know what 
became of the elephant he took to the 
Earth,” said Harold, “and I will tell you. 
.That elephant belongs to me and it is now on 
the Mercurian Island.” 

“What!” exclaimed the guide, “You own 
the elephant and it is now on the Mercurian 
Island?” 

“Yes,” replied Harold. 

“But will you kindly tell me how you 
ever got a big heavy thing like that up in 
Star-land?” 

“Certainly. The balloon carried it up.” 

“Balloon ! Who ever heard of a balloon in 
connection with an elephant ? I never did.” 

“Well, there w^as one and a very good one 
at that,” said Harold. 

“I believe you, of course, but if any one 


74 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


else had told me that a balloon could be 
strong enough to carry an elephant that size 
I would not have believed it possible, but I 
can believe anything any one tells me about 
what that wonderful old man can do.” 

They had now arrived at one of the gates 
of Hades. 

“Now let us start down through this first 
gate, make a tour of the interior and come 
out at the seventh gate,” suggested the 
guide. 

Just then a burst of flames and the suffo- 
cating fumes of sulphur poured out of one 
of the caves near by and nearly choked them. 
This settled the girls. They decided to re- 
main where they were. 

“I hate to have you go down, dear,” said 
the Princess; “the fumes may suffocate 
you.” 

“Oh, no,” said the new guide who had 
arrived, “those fumes only arise when the 
fires are being replenished. These holes are 
like chimneys and no one can be entirely 
overcome. Attendants take good care of 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


75 


that for they are instructed to prolong the 
sufferings of their victims but not to kill 
them.” 

“What relentless, cruel people these long- 
faced, sly-looking Saturnians are,” ex- 
claimed lone. 

As the boys disappeared through the open- 
ing, the girls called after them, “Do be care- 
ful and hurry back.” 

Down and down they went, choking and 
coughing the while as they penetrated far- 
ther and deeper into the very bowels of the 
planet. The air grew hotter and hotter and 
peering over the narrow, winding stairway, 
they could see at the extreme bottom a red 
hot mass of seething, burning matter. 

“Hark! I thought I heard the Princess 
scream,” said the Prince, abruptly stopping 
on his way. 

“I heard no one,” said Harold, “so I 
guess you are mistaken, or it might have 
been the voice of some one down below.” 

“Perhaps so,” replied the Prince; but 
love’s ears are sharp, and he had heard 


76 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


aright, though he was overpersuaded and 
continued on his way. 

The Princess had screamed because di- 
rectly in front of her the ground had sud- 
denly opened like a big door and out of the 
opening had come a red-clad figure with 
horns on its head and a staff in its hand. 

lone was too astonished to move and sat 
there staring at the newcomer, with eyes and 
mouth wide open. Bitterly she repented her 
suggestion, which both girls had acted upon, 
that they remove their magic robes and ap- 
pear once more to each other as the Ameri- 
can girl and the little Oriental Princess. 

“I have come for you,” said he. Neither 
girl moved an inch. 

“Come,” he continued, “or I shall have 
to carry you.” 

Still neither girl moved or knew what to 
do. Stiff with fright, they vaguely wondered 
what he would do if they refused to go with 
him. 

They soon found out, for he struck the 
ground three times with his tail which rat- 


THE GIANT RAISED HIS SWORD 

(P- 5°) 




. 








s .«• . I 





« 

































































ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 77 

tied like that of a great rattlesnake and im- 
mediately the ground opened as it had be- 
fore and out jumped a figure in scales of 
green. He gave lone one look, and then at 
a signal from the other lifted her in his arms 
which were as strong as iron and followed 
the red sprite, who had picked up the Prin- 
cess. It was no use to struggle, thought the 
girls, and maybe the boys had sent for them, 
anyway they decided not to do anything un- 
til they found what was going to be done 
with them. 

The two sprites approached a large, flat, 
white stone and both stepped upon it at the 
same instant. Down it went, taking them 
with it into the very center of the planet. 
Not a word was spoken while they were slip- 
ping through the long, dark shaft, and the 
stone platform on which they were standing 
stopped after a time, while a door at one end 
of the shaft opened and they found them- 
selves in Hades, proper, as this portion of 
it was called. 

The girls blinked like bats at first when 


78 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


the vivid light flashed into their eyes but 
they soon became accustomed to it. They 
were now put into wheelbarrows that looked 
as if used for carrying coal, and were 
wheeled along without a word. The Princess 
found a chance to whisper, “Do you think 
they are going to burn us as they would 
coal?” 

“I am sure I don’t know. Oh, for our 
magic robes!” said lone in a similar whis- 
per. 

Presently they began to pass dismal cells 
in which were chained wicked-looking men 
and women, and over each of these cells was 
an account of the deeds each had committed, 
cut in letters which gleamed like coals of 
fire. All around them blue, yellow, and 
green devils were working, stirring the al- 
ready hot fires, throwing on more sulphur 
or adding fuel, refusing ever to give the 
poor inmates the cool draught of water for 
which they were continuously begging. 

Over one of the cells they read the account 
of a most brutal murder, over another the in- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 79 

human treatment of wife and children, and 
so on past hundreds and hundreds of cells 
until they were sick at heart to know that 
such cruelties could exist and had to be in 
some way punished. Of course they could 
not but hear the moans and groans of the 
victims and their horrible language as well, 
but deaf ears were turned to all pleadings 
and the girls felt that it would be useless for 
them to beg to be taken back to the surface 
and daylight and were beginning to lose 
their courage, when to their surprise and 
delight they saw Harold and the Prince 
coming down a broad passage just ahead of 
them. What then was the astonishment of 
the boys to see them being trundled in wheel- 
barrows down in the very depths of Hades ? 

“What do you mean by bringing these 
ladies down here?” said the boys’ guide to 
the sprites w T ho had carried away the girls. 

They explained that they had been told to 
bring down two people whom they would 
find in a certain place, and as the girls were 
in this place they of course brought them 


80 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


down. With many and profuse apologies 
for their mistake, made in a language not 
one word of which the girls could under- 
stand, these sprites retired. 

The guides now asked them if they would 
like to investigate further for there were 
numerous divisions to Hades which they had 
not as yet seen. These divisions were graded 
according to the atrocity of the deeds com- 
mitted. The most wicked criminals were 
sent to the lowest depths, the punishments 
there being the most severe, while they les- 
sened as each higher division was reached. 
The boys declared they had seen all they 
cared to and as for the girls, they had wit- 
nessed much more than they wished to, so 
they were quickly conducted to the open 
air. 

“This is the very way we were taken 
down,” said lone. 

“Sure enough, it is,” replied the Prin- 
cess. “Did you ever see such an elevator in 
all your life?” for with a one, two, three, 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


81 


they had reached the open air, while just 
before them fluttered their air-ship. 

“Now where shall I take you?” asked 
their attendant, “I have orders to show you 
the sights of our island.” 

“Thank you, but we must not tarry 
longer,” said Harold. 

“But surely you will like to visit our satel- 
lites and luminous belts which we are very 
proud of since ours is the only planet in this 
solar system that has luminous belts.” 

“I am sure they must be worth seeing, but 
we have already stayed so long that we must 
hurry on now,” said the Prince and, thank- 
ing the guide for his courtesy and kindness, 
they quickly donned their wishing-robes and 
started for Uranus, glad to leave the gloom 
of Saturn and relieved to get away from a 
place where they had not heard one merry 
laugh. 


CHAPTER VII. 


Off, off into space sped our quartette with 
their guide, past heaven’s many-colored 
star-lamps shining in their vault of blue to 
light the many worlds that surround as well 
as our world beneath them. They neither 
loitered nor stopped at any place on their 
way for you must remember that they had 
to travel many million miles to reach 
Uranus, that planet being way out in space 
at a distance of from one billion, six hun- 
dred and ninety-nine million to one billion, 
eight hundred and sixty-five million miles 
from the Sun. It takes this planet about 
eighty-four years, traveling in its regular 
path, to make one complete circuit of the 
Sun. 

Without their magic robes it would have 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 83 

been impossible to reach this distant island, 
but with them, and by constantly reiterating 
their wish to be there, they at last came in 
sight of this glorious planet and were daz- 
zled by its clear white light which gleamed 
and flashed with the brilliancy of the pur- 
est diamond. 

“It is well that we are going to the Satel- 
lite Island instead of to the planet itself,” 
said lone. “I doubt if we could endure its 
dazzling light for it hurts my eyes even at 
this distance.” 

“Strange, eccentric people live there,” 
said Mercury. “People who on Earth would 
be thought foolish or insane, for nothing is 
too strange for them to tolerate, to investi- 
gate, or to experiment with, and they are 
constantly proving that what Earth people 
sometimes look upon as impossible or 
merely as the idea of a diseased brain often 
proves both possible and practical, while the 
so-called lunatic, the inventor, is here re- 
vered as a man of brains and a genius.” 

The buzz of wheels and drills accom- 


84 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


panied with the pounding of hammers was 
heard on al] sides, for everywhere men were 
working on newly-invented, highly-per- 
fected air-ships, steamers, war-vessels, air 
brakes, railroad apparatus of all kinds, ma- 
chinery for hoisting great weights, etc.; 
while inside the buildings men were busy 
in laboratories, bending over retorts in 
which boiling liquids could be seen. These 
men were so quaintly dressed and so weird- 
looking that they reminded one of the al- 
chemists of old trying to turn the baser met- 
als into gold. There were wide-awake young 
men here also, studying the marvelous prop- 
erties of the newly-discovered radium, 
which at the present time is worth three 
hundred thousand times its own weight in 
gold, and many elements and metals that 
Earth people know nothing of. 

As they went from shipyard to laboratory 
and from laboratory to electrical work- 
rooms, they closely scanned the faces of all 
about them, hoping to see their wonderful 
old man. After leaving the men’s quarters, 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


85 


they came to an immense building where 
none but women were at work, some on 
tapestries, others on lace that rivaled the 
cobweb for delicacy of texture. Embroid- 
eries they saw in which the flowers literally 
seemed to grow, blossom, and wait to be 
plucked ; pictures done in illuminated paints 
whose tints rivaled those of sunset skies— 
in fact everything that human hands could 
do was done here to perfection. 

“Our old man cannot be here,” said the 
Princess. “Perhaps he has returned to 
Earth with another elephant or air-ship.” 

They were about to abandon their search 
for him when Mercury said : 

“See that peculiar looking edifice built in 
the shape of a Greek cross. Let us go and 
find out what it is. Perhaps it is the es- 
pecial laboratory of the very man for whom 
we are searching.” 

On arriving at the door they were very 
much impressed with the beauty and gran- 
deur of the entrance to say nothing of the 
elaborate decorations of the edifice itself. 


86 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


The doors were wide open and, entering, 
they saw in the center of a highly-vaulted 
chamber, a large model air-ship that looked 
as light as paper wrought in graceful curves 
with great beauty of design, but which 
proved to be on closer inspection as strong 
as iron. That it would work like magic 
without hitch or flaw, our young people 
knew at once, since their wonderful old man 
was its inventor. And there beside it he 
stood with a dreamy, far-away expression 
in his eyes as if he already felt himself 
speeding through space in it. Harold rec- 
ognized him at once with his white hair and 
beard and his loose gown of dark purple 
corded in at the waist. They all advanced a 
little nearer and stood directly before him 
where his eyes would rest upon them imme- 
diately he came out of his open-eyed dream. 

Mercury told the young people to doff 
their magic robes, and they were scarcely off 
their shoulders when the old man started, 
rubbed his eyes, stared, again rubbed his 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 87 

eyes as if brushing away some illusion, 
looked once more, and then said : 

“Be ye flesh and blood I look upon or only 
fancies of my brain ?” 

“My dear sir,” Harold answered, “we are 
flesh and blood and if you will but look more 
closely you will surely recognize me as the 
young man who entered your elephant when 
I thought you d}dng. ’ ’ 

“To be sure! To be sure!” he exclaimed. 
“But how did you all reach this island?” he 
asked in surprise. 

When Harold had finished giving him a 
detailed account of all he had done and 
where they had traveled since receiving the 
elephant, he said, “Well done, my young 
hero. I see that my elephant could not have 
fallen into better hands and from my heart 
I am glad that you have all enjoyed it.” 

“How much we have enjoyed and appre- 
ciated your gift we will never be able to 
tell,” replied Harold, “but we all tender you 
sincere and earnest thanks,” in which the 
rest of the party enthusiastically acquiesced. 


88 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“And now since you have come all this 
way to thank me for my gift I will give you 
another treat. I will take you all for a trip 
in my newly perfected air-ship of which the 
one before you is but the model. The ship 
itself is in a large enclosure on the other side 
of the building.” 

“How perfectly enchanting that will be !” 
exclaimed the girls, while the boys thanked 
him profusely for all the trouble he was 
taking. 

“No trouble, I assure you,” he said, “only 
a pleasure. Follow me and I will show that 
my air-ship is as far ahead of the elephant 
as a fast ocean steamer is ahead of a flat- 
boat.” 

“My! what are those people doing who 
are jumping up in the air and darting about 
as if shot from a gun?” asked the Princess. 

“To be sure! To be sure! It must seem 
strange to you,” answered the old man, “but 
that is our mode of locomotion. We propel 
ourselves through the air instead of walking, 
as that is too slow to suit our tastes. We do 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


89 


not fly but we use an electric apparatus 
about the size of a matchbox which we fas- 
ten between our shoulders, and one half as 
large which we wear under the soles of our 
feet. If we wish to travel in the air to avoid 
crowds and hindrances we simply press 
hard upon the soles of our feet and the little 
contrivances fastened there send us up al- 
most as rapidly as if blown by an explosive, 
then by the use of handles connected with 
the boxes between our shoulders, we propel 
ourselves forward, backward, sideways or in 
any direction desired. A great many of our 
people devote all their time to studying new 
and improved methods of travel for the use 
of the inhabitants of Earth, for year by year 
your people seem to be more and more in a 
hurry and methods which seem perfectly 
satisfactory one year are all too slow be- 
fore twelve months have passed by. Well! 
here we are,” he continued, throwing 
open enormous doors which led into a large 
grassy enclosure devoid of trees of any de- 
scription, in which, pulling at her anchor 


90 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


with every passing breeze, rested the air- 
ship, “Queen of the Heavens,” as she had 
been named. 

I shall not attempt to describe this beauti- 
ful, graceful, convenient marvel but will 
leave it to the reader’s imagination. I will 
say, however, that the heaviest metal used in 
its construction was aluminum, while it was 
lighted with radium whose dazzling glare 
was softened by colored globes, and its pro- 
pelling power was electricity but so per- 
fected that an Earth-born mortal of to-day 
would not recognize it as such. 

“Now, my dear young people, where shall 
I take you for a sail? Shall it be to the 
Moon, to the Dog Star, or still further 
toward Neptune, or would you like to slowly 
drop to within a mile of the Earth and then 
sail around it?” 

“Oh! the last!” they all exclaimed in 
chorus, “for it would be such fun to see the 
people of Earth gazing at us through tele- 
scopes thinking we were inhabitants from 
Mars coming to visit them.” 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


91 


“Very well, just as you choose,” he said. 

After they were comfortably seated, the 
anchor raised and the old man had placed 
himself at the helm, the ship began slowly to 
ascend into the blue ether until it was above 
and free from the high wall of the enclosure, 
then with a turn of the steerage apparatus, 
the huge ship glided up as easily as a bird 
and with slightly lowered bow commenced 
to sink toward Barth. Past single stars, 
through groups of stars, still lower down 
into starless ether, then across the air 
line boundary into Earth’s atmosphere, 
through thick masses of clouds, they at last 
came into clear atmosphere half a mile above 
the earth and could now see numberless peo- 
ple straining their eyes to discover what this 
strange aerial craft might be. It would take 
an endless time to relate all that happened 
on this trip but I will disclose a few events 
in the next chapter of the voyage of “The 
Queen of Heaven.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


The big ship was poised in mid-air over 
the Palisades of the Hudson, near New York 
City. Presently the old man lowered the 
machine so close to Earth that Harold and 
the Prince descended a rope ladder and 
landed in order that they might get some 
newspapers and discover what was being 
said about the air-ship, which had eivdently 
been seen at different places all the way 
from California to the East. They were 
likewise charged with several commissions 
from the girls, not the least being one to 
bring them candy for, as they said, “they 
were dying for some of Huyler’s best.” 

At about sundown the boys returned, hav- 
ing made good time to and from the city. 
Their arms and pockets were loaded with 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


93 


boxes and packages of various sizes, for they 
had purchased candy, peanuts, gum, papers, 
magazines, and last but not least a dress for 
each of the girls which they knew would be 
needed if they decided to land anywhere. 
Those they already had were badly out of 
style and, sad as it may seem, I shall have to 
tell you that their magic robes would not 
work below the air-shed line in the Earth’s 
atmosphere. 

As the boys were unloading their arms 
and emptying their pockets, the girls stood 
close beside them listening to the doings of 
the day and eating peanuts and candy be- 
tween questions. 

“Well! I will tell you the things that im- 
pressed me most forcibly were the dirt and 
the smoky atmosphere and, what was 
scarcely less disagreeable, the unmannerly 
people in the slow-moving crowds. I con- 
stantly wished for my magic robe that I 
might escape from the clanging bells, rum- 
bling wheels, and pushing crowds. It was 
positively deafening after enjoying the quiet 


94 ) ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

and peace of the skies, and suffocating too, 
with its smoke-laden atmosphere. How so 
many people can live in a city from choice, 
I cannot imagine. I always disliked noise 
and dirt but now after our recent exper- 
iences in the heavens, it will be unendur- 
able. ’’ 

While they had been talking, the old man 
had quietly steered the ship over New York 
harbor and now he and Mercury were watch- 
ing a large white object that was sailing di- 
rectly beneath them. 

i 6 Look over the side,” said Mercury. “See 
what a beautiful sight the harbor presents 
with all its ocean-liners and ferry boats mov- 
ing to and fro in the moonlight with their 
many-colored lanterns. That fast ocean 
greyhound is especially majestic and has 
just entered the harbor with its hundreds 
of passengers from foreign shores.” 

The old man lowered the ship so that they 
could distinguish voices on the steamer be- 
neath them and could see by the rays thrown 
from the search-light the frightened faces 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


95 


of the passengers. As the steamer passed 
on to her dock the air-ship slowly ascended 
until she was lost to sight in the clear night 
sky. 

While they were speeding on their way to 
Europe, Harold took out the papers he had 
bought, and seating himself beside a shaded 
reading lamp commenced to read aloud what 
was being said about their air-ship. One 
paper had in red head lines : 

“Our neighbors from Mars have at last 
materialized, but either from fright or some 
unknown reason have failed to land or in 
any way communicate with us, so that we are 
none the wiser for their visit. ” 

Another read, “A wonderful phenomenon 
has been observed at many points in the 
West. First at San Francisco, then, within 
twenty-four hours, in Omaha, later in Chi- 
cago, and last in Philadelphia. It is impos- 
sible to conjecture whether it is a heavenly 
body wandering out of its natural course or 
whether it is a mechanical toy invented by 
human hands, for it travels too fast for sat- 


96 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


isfactory examination or observation. It is 
at present reading an unsolved problem/ ’ 

A scientific magazine devoted several 
pages to theories concerning this aerial 
stranger : 

“Its speed seemed only rivaled by the ease 
and grace of its motions. It has not been 
seen to land any passengers, neither is it 
known that it contained passengers, al- 
though judging from its direct and steady 
course it is reasonable to believe that it 
is controlled by human agency. People 
are sleeping on the house-tops hoping to see 
it sail by, for some one is on watch every 
moment to give the signal should it appear.” 

In the meantime our young people were 
half way to Europe in the midst of a terrible 
thunder storm and now it was that “The 
Queen” showed the perfection of her mech- 
anism, for with sails lowered, and all things 
shipshape, she was ready for anything, and 
though the wind blew hurricanes, the thun- 
der sounded with deafening crashes, and 
the lightning fairly blinded them with its 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


97 


lurid glare, the ship floated serenely onward. 
Storms had no visible effect upon this queer- 
shaped air craft. It shot through the storm 
clouds like a meteor with no trouble whatso- 
ever, while the rain and hail slipped off do- 
ing no damage. Once or twice the girls had 
a scare when it turned bottom side up and 
over and over two or three times like a 
bucket of water when twirled at arms length, 
but it righted itself at once and all was done 
so quickly that not even a dish fell from the 
shelves or a chair moved from its place any 
more than a drop of water would fall from 
a bucket swung in that way. At another 
time it spun round and round like a top un- 
til they were all dizzy and could scarcely sit 
up, then it shot forward hither and thither 
with lightning-like speed. At last the old 
man disentangled the wires and adjusted 
the steering apparatus, when all was again 
smooth sailing, but he found that in doing 
so he had sustained several shocks from the 
electric wires and some bad burns. 

“Now is the time for me to experiment on 


98 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


myself and see what radium will do for me. 
It is claimed to effect wonderful cures for 
such things.” He made the experiment and 
found that it not only effected a painless but 
also a quick cure. “It is an ill wind that 
blows no one any good,” he said, “and now 
I can recommend the use of this element for 
burns and blisters.” He seemed quite de- 
lighted to think that he had been hurt since 
it gave him an opportunity of proving the 
wonderful power of this new metal. 

While the storm was raging, our party 
had heard the booming of cannon and had 
seen sky-rockets ascend. 

“Are they signals of distress from some 
ship underneath us?” asked Harold. 

“I think so,” answered the captain, as 
they now called the old man. “I’ll lower 
our ship and see if we cannot assist them.” 

Presently they saw an ocean-liner breast- 
ing the winds and breakers, helpless in mid- 
ocean, without masts and with a big hole 
in its side. 

“It is doomed!” cried the captain; “but 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


99 


we can save the passengers. Our ship will 
float above her steady as a rock and I can 
lower rope ladders so that her passengers 
can reach our deck in safety.’’ 

When the frightened passengers saw this 
magnificent ship in mid-air above them they 
thought it was a mirage or phantom-ship 
sent to mock them in their despair, but when 
they heard through the megaphone encour- 
aging words directing them to mount the 
ladders to safety, they instantly complied 
and soon every person on the disabled ship 
from stevedore to captain was on the air- 
ship, some with tears and sobs, others with 
white haggard faces thanking the captain 
for his timely coming. The last person had 
barely placed his foot on the step of the 
ladder when the ocean steamer gave a 
mighty lurch and disappeared from sight as 
if pulled under water by some merciless 
mer-king. 

After the passengers recovered from their 
fright they were profuse with their oh’s and 
ah’s of admiration of the majestic ship they 


L.ofC. 


100 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


were now on, with its new electrical con- 
trivances, peculiar mode of lighting, and 
the elegance and comfort of its furnishings. 
Everything was examined from the bath- 
tubs to the stringed musical instruments that 
vibrated harmonious, plaintive melodies as 
the wind swept through them. They were 
delighted with the frescoes and superb paint- 
ings illustrative of scenes in space as well as 
on land and water, which decorated the ceil- 
ings and walls. 

The wrecked ship was bound for Liver- 
pool so the captain landed his passengers 
there one fine morning before half the people 
of that city were awake. 



THEY REMINDED ONE OF THE ALCHEMISTS OF OLD 

(p. 84) 


































CHAPTER IX. 


After bidding the shipwrecked people 
good-bye, our party concluded to steer for 
Siam, stopping at the city of Paris on their 
way, for the Prince and Princess had never 
visited this city of styles and wickedness. 
They arrived there early one morning just 
when the first rays of the Sun were lighting 
the towers of Notre Dame and the captain 
guided them directly to the Eiffel Tower 
where they landed, planning to remain in 
Paris for a few days, the captain, in the 
meantime, would sail above the city and wait 
for them. 

I will not stop to tell you all that they saw 
or did during that memorable week, for 
those who have been in Paris can imagine and 
those who have not may hold it in anticipa- 


102 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


tion. Suffice it to say that they all had, as 
lone put it, “the time of their lives,” visiting 
theatres, Versailles, the Louvre, shopping, 
driving in the parks, taking dinners at the 
best hotels and suppers at the celebrated res- 
taurants. They were pretty well tired out 
when they at last returned to the ship on the 
appointed morning. 

“And now we are off for Siam to see what 
has taken place during your absence,” said 
the captain. 6 6 I know you have called up the 
picture of Siam on our magic mirror to see 
how things were going but you could not talk 
to your people as you will be able to do now . 9 9 

“Magic Mirror is an apt name for the blue 
vault which pictures the wonderful views we 
have seen,” said the Princess. 

“A penny for your thoughts, Prince,” 
said Harold. 

“They are not for sale but I will give them 
to you if you will come here. I want to con- 
sult you about something.” 

“I hope it is not that you wish to leave 
us when we reach Siam,” said Harold. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


103 


“ No, indeed! Quite the contrary. I have 
concluded that I do not wish to go to Siam 
even for a visit and if you will come and sit 
beside me I will tell you why. You see, if I 
go to Siam my people will know that I am 
alive and then my brother would have to give 
up his throne which he so highly prizes, as 
he would no longer be the rightful heir. Now 
I care nothing for the throne so why not let 
them still think me dead and allow my 
brother to live in peace? When we first 
thought of visiting Siam I did not realize 
how my going would complicate matters, but 
only thought of the pleasure it would give 
the Princess and myself to surprise and see 
them once more. Now, I feel that we must 
forego the pleasure.” 

“You are right, Prince. I, too, did not 
think of the trouble your visit would cause.” 

“We must speak to the captain and tell 
him of our change of plans or we will be in 
Siam and landing at the palace before we 
know it at the rate of speed we are now trav- 
eling,” said the Prince. 


104 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


So they told the captain their after- 
thoughts and he said their decision was a 
wise one and added that it would have been 
too bad to shorten the aerial trip of the Prin- 
cess. If he had stopped to visit his people 
they naturally would not have been willing 
that he continue his travels after getting 
him back, as they thought, from the dead. 

“You must not return to Earth to remain 
until you have first visited Neptune, that 
mystic planet far out in space on the very 
borders of our solar system, to say nothing 
of the beautiful and surprising places bor- 
dering on the Milky Way . ’ ’ 

Mercury now spoke, saying that he feared 
he should not be able to accompany them 
longer unless they returned to the heavens 
immediately, for his time of leave would ex- 
pire before he could get to Neptune and re- 
turn, it was so very far away. “I want you 
to see some of the independent islands also, 
those not under the influence or sway of any 
of the planets.’ ’ 

“Goodness, gracious, me! If you are 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


105 


thinking of leaving us, we will return to the 
heavens this minute rather than lose you, 
for no other guide would be acceptable to us 
after having been led by you,” said lone. 

“You are very kind, but there are dozens 
of other guides far superior to me,” said 
Mercury. 

“Of course you would say that,” said the 
Prince, “but we don’t know how good the 
others are and we do know you, so we are 
going back at once to those mysterious, fasci- 
nating lands that float in heaven’s blue 
ether.” 

Having all agreed to return with Mercury, 
the captain pointed the bow of his trusty 
ship in a direct oblique line for Uranus, 
where he was to hand them over to Mercury 
once more. 

Although “The Queen” traveled with the 
speed of electricity, it took several days for 
our party to reach Uranus as, unlike their 
magic robes, she could not quite do away 
with time and space. On their way to 
Uranus the captain told them if they should 


106 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


ever want for money all they had to do was 
to go where there was a large deposit of ra- 
dium and sell enough to supply their needs, 
for it was much more valuable than gold it- 
self, and he then proceeded to tell them 
where they could always find this white 
chemical in the form of crystals, which 
much resembled salt. 

“On Uranus we have no money or specie 
of any kind,” he continued. “Our trading 
is done by giving out thoughts and ideas. 
Each man’s bank is his brain and he who has 
the best brain is considered the wealthiest 
man, while he is valued for what he actually 
has done, and not for what he says he can do, 
for the good of his race. ^ o repetition of 
others’ thoughts or bragging can be either 
traded or taken in account here. A man 
must do what he says he can do and he who 
does the most for the public good is looked 
upon and taken for the guide and ruler of 
the island. All questions and decisions are 
referred to him and all depend upon his 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


107 


judgment as to ways and means of settle- 
ment.’’ 

“How I wish things were arranged in that 
way on our Earth,” said Harold. “Then the 
right man would be in the right place every 
time, and prosperity would be ensured.” 

“I see it ! I see it ! ” exclaimed lone. 

“See what'?” asked Harold. 

“Uranus,” replied she. 

“True enough, she does,” said the captain. 
“You have very sharp eyes, and now that the 
way is clear I am going to use full speed. 
Listen to the varied and peculiar tones the 
air makes as it rushes by.” 

“Does it not sound weird*?” said lone. 

“It makes me feel creepy and afraid,” 
said the Princess. 

“Horrors! What is the matter now!” ex- 
claimed lone, for they had come to a sudden 
stop. 

“Nothing,” calmly replied the captain, 
“only that we have reached our destination 
and I lessened the speed to allow the ship to 


108 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


sink quietly down into the enclosure we 
started from.” 

“ You mean to tell us we are really back !” 
they exclaimed in chorus. “Only a few min- 
utes ago we were leagues away.” 

“So we were but, if you remember, I said 
I intended using full speed,” replied the 
captain, “and behold the result. Distance 
was soon wiped out and time almost caught 
up with.” 

“We can never thank you enough for this 
pleasant trip. We have given up entirely 
ever being able to pay our indebtedness to 
you for all the charming treats you have 
given us,” said the Princess. 

“Do not thank me, for I have had equal 
joy in seeing the successful result of my in- 
ventions as well as witnessing your pleasure. 
And now before we part I wish to give you 
each a memento of the happy hours we have 
spent together. My gift cannot be delivered 
now, but some fine morning you will see 
floating above each of your homes an air- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


109 


ship the exact counterpart of the one we are 
now in.” 

They were all too touched by his gener- 
osity to be able to speak at first, but the Prin- 
cess quickly recovered herself and walked 
shyly toward the old man. Throwing her 
arms around his neck, she kissed him. lone 
did likewise while the Prince and Harold, 
with moistened eyes, gripped his hands in 
silent gratitude and appreciation, only say- 
ing that it was too much for him to do. But 
the old man only laughed and seemed ex- 
ceedingly happy in knowing that he had been 
the means of giving them pleasure. 

You can well imagine how they lingered in 
saying good-bye and would not be satisfied 
until he had promsied that he would visit 
them when they were settled in the new 
homes they were going to prepare when they 
returned to Earth. 

“Now, Mercury, what can I give you*?” 
asked the old man. “I know that material 
things are not desired by those who live in 
space, and as a person cannot give a slice of 


110 ON A LARK' TO THE PLANETS. 

his brains, the only valuable thing here, I 
am at a loss to know what to give you to show 
how much I appreciate your kindness in 
bringing these young people to me.” 

“The pleasure of being with you all has 
been sufficient recompense for me,” replied 
Mercury, “and if you do not mind I should 
like to return and learn from you some of 
the wonderful secrets of nature you pos- 
sess.” 

“Come, my dear fellow, and come often. 
I would be delighted to teach you anything I 
know, for I am getting to be an old man and 
some times feel that I have done my share of 
work and would be glad to leave in younger 
hands the tasks and studies that are still un- 
finished.” 

For a long time after our party had 
started for Neptune they felt quiet and sub- 
dued. lone did not talk and Harold forgot 
to tease. They had traveled in silence for 
some distance when lone in a revery said, 
“Neptune, god of the waters. I wonder if 
we will find the planet’s Satellite Island 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


Ill 


nearly all water and its inhabitants floating 
about in gondolas or queer-shaped barges 
and boats, as the Venetians do.” 

‘ ‘ I expect we will, ’ ’ said the Princess, ‘ ‘ and 
I have the funniest feeling, as if when I 
reach there I shall have reached the end of 
space and can look over the edge as I should 
if the universe were a plate and Neptune a 
big ball on its rim.” 

“Oh! you queer girl!” exclaimed lone. 
“You have the funniest ideas sometimes. 
You make me laugh.” 

“I should think you would be afraid our 
6 wishes’ would get out of order and we would 
get stuck in space like a balky horse or, if 
our magic robes failed to work, that we 
would go whirling and speeding through 
space like a comet,” said Harold. 

“Harold, you are the worst tease I ever 
knew,” said the Princess. 

“Well, isn’t it true that all things wear out 
with constant use"? We have kept wishing, 
wishing, and wishing that we might be first 
in this place and then in that, or that we 


112 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


could see this or the other thing until I 
should think our robes would at least be 
threadbare .’ 9 

“I am sure it is lucky for us that our robes 
are made of magical stuff or, as Harold says, ( 
they would not only be threadbare but full 
of holes as well,” said the Prince. 

“Look sharply and you will see just ahead, 
first a flash of blue then a flash of green 
light,” said Mercury. “Those are from 
Neptune and as we draw nearer the lights 
will shine with steady brilliancy.” 


CHAPTER X. 


Neptune was so far away that it required 
repeated wishing to get there. Think of it ! 
It is 2,791,000,000 miles from the Sun, a dis- 
tance one cannot realize or grasp from cold 
figures. It has to be compared to something 
on Earth for one to form any definite idea of 
its immensity. 

“Now, one, two, three,” said Mercury. 
“Let us make a last wish and it will surely 
land us on Neptune’s Satellite Island.” 

They complied and in the twinkling of an 
eye found themselves standing on a high 
arched bridge facing, well! how can I de- 
scribe it? A magnificent white temple-like 
edifice all domes, porticoes, and windows of 
rainbow hues. It stood in the center of a 
small island connected with the mainland by 


114 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

twelve bridges similar to the one on which 
they were standing. Each bridge faced an 
imposing colmnn-porticoed entrance, with 
broad sweeping steps leading to it, on either 
side of which were symbolical figures that 
represented the different signs of the Zodiac. 
The entire temple was built in such a style 
as to form an eight-pointed star, in the cen- 
ter of which was a circle. The audience hall 
was a stupendous circular room with twelve 
doors leading from it. Overhead in the lofty 
dome, which was of sapphire to represent 
the blue of the sky, were sprinkled diamond 
stars and differently colored jewels repre- 
senting each planet in its characteristic 
color. Looking closely, one could see that 
this dome was divided into twelve sections by 
gold bands and in its center was one enor- 
mous diamond representing the Sun, while 
each division or section was marked by a 
sign of the Zodiac, and the colored jewels 
that represented the planets were placed in 
the sign of the Zodiac in which they were 
located at the time of the birth of Christ, 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


115 


while the whole circle was called “The Cir- 
cle of Life.” 

Directly underneath this dome was an- 
other Zodiacal Circle set in the floor where 
the planets moved by clock work and were al- 
ways to be found just where the real planets 
in the heavens are each day in the year. This 
temple was one dedicated to the twin sciences 
Astronomy and Astrology. The people who 
live on Neptune call Astronomy the back- 
bone and Astrology the soul of the science of 
the stars. 

“Here is where one can have his horoscope 
or life-wheel calculated, and can learn what 
his talents, abilities, and future prospects 
are,” said Mercury. 

“Let us go and have our future pre- 
dicted,” said lone. 

As they stood on the bridge talking and 
looking about them, beautiful gondolas had 
been gliding along on the placid waters be- 
neath. Each gondola had elaborately carved 
jewel-set figures, representing sea horses, 
mermaids or Undines for its bow, and car- 


116 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


ried a minstrel or musician, and its passen- 
gers leaned on silken cushions apparently ob- 
livious to surroundings while listening to the 
soft, plaintive tones that fell from harp, flute 
or mandolin. The musical plash of the sin- 
gle paddle which guided the pleasure-boats 
furnished a harmonious accompaniment. 
This was truly a silent city where carriage 
wheels were never heard or the clatter of 
horse’s hoofs, for there were no streets, only 
canals and lagoons. 

“ Suppose we cross this bridge and enter 
the temple,” said Mercury. “I have a pass 
that will admit us to all buildings on the 
Satellite Islands.” 

“That will be agreeable to us,” answered 
Harold. 

So they wished themselves dressed in sim- 
ple white robes and then walked slowly over 
the bridge and followed the path that led to 
the Temple of Astrology. As they ap- 
proached, they saw a stately old man about 
to descend the steps. He had a snowy beard 
and flowing, white hair. A mantle of purple 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


117 


velvet was thrown across his shoulders and 
on its hem were embroidered the signs of 
the Zodiac in threads of gold. On his breast 
flashed a diamond star, while on the third 
finger of his left hand he wore a priceless 
seal ring set with his birth-stone. 

Mercury recognized him at once as one of 
the twelve wise men who presided over the 
Wheel of Life set in the Temple floor, also 
one of the “Brotherhood of Twelve,’’ a se- 
cret order legally licensed to calculate horo- 
scopes and read the lives of people. 

Mercury introduced our party and told 
the Brother that the ladies would like to 
have their life-wheels read. He cour- 
teously consented and offered also to show 
them the marvelous telescope, with lens so 
powerful that the star farthest away in space 
could be brought into plain view. 

“Now, if you will come with me I will tell 
you a curious thing about this temple, for 
though you may wonder why, you will soon 
realize that you are drawn in a certain di- 
rection as if by invisible hands. For in- 


118 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

stance, as you walk around the circular hall, 
when you arrive at the door leading to that 
sign of the Zodiac under which you were 
born, you will feel an irresistible desire to 
enter and stand on that sign in the Zodiacal 
wheel set in the floor. Like, they say, at- 
tracts like.” 

“But I do not know which sign I was 
born under,” said lone. 

“It does not matter in the least whether 
you know or not,” replied the Brother. 
“You will instinctively enter the door and 
be most strongly attracted to the especial 
sign which appeared at the eastern horizon 
at the hour of your birth.” 

“What fun!” said lone. “Let us walk 
around and test it.” 

“How very interesting,” said the Prin- 
cess. “We can walk slowly and completely 
around the circle taking a good look at each 
entrance, then on the second round we can 
enter the door that seems most attractive.” 

“And when you find that out,” continued 
the Brother, “as you stand on the sign in the 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


119 


wheel, I will tell you something of your dis- 
position, nature, and inclinations. Another 
thing I will mention is that a special color is 
also assigned to each sign, also a jewel which 
is called one’s birth gem, and which it is 
fortunate for one to wear. We planet peo- 
ple wear ours on our third finger.” 

“Why on the third finger V 9 queried Har- 
old. 

“Because three is a sacred number and is 
symbolical of many things. Another fact 
about these signs is that each represents one 
of the four elements, fire, earth, air, or water. 
Look at the wheel in the dome and you will 
see that each of its divisions is colored ac- 
cording to the element it represents, red for 
fire, brown for earth, blue for water, and 
white for air. There are three red, three 
brown, three white, and three blue sections. 

“When the early astrologers were con- 
sulted by two people with regard to mar- 
riage, and found that one was born under a 
sign representing fire, while the other was 
born under one representing water, they 


120 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

.would advise them not to marry, for one 
would be warm-hearted, impulsive, and im- 
petuous while the other would be slow and 
easy-going, so that, not being congenial, they 
would not be happy together. Fire is 
quenched by water, while water is disturbed 
and made to steam or boil by fire.” 

“How very interesting this study of the 
stars must be,” said Harold. 

“I mean to pursue it,” said the Prince. 

“If you think simply the signs are inter- 
esting to hear about, you would find the po- 
sition of the planets in the different signs 
perfectly fascinating, but the stars are a 
life-long study and the longer one studies 
them the more absorbed one becomes. Shall 
we begin our circuit around the hall now ? I 
am always interested to know through 
what door one is inclined to enter.” 

As they leisurely sauntered along they 
plied the Brother with numberless questions 
and when any of their number would stop 
unusually long before any door, the others 
would immediately ask, “Do you think that 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


121 


leads to your sign?” or “Do you truly feel 
inclined to enter that door?” and so between 
questions and much laughter they finished 
their first round. 


CHAPTER XI. 


Over the first doorway they saw a ram’s 
head and the first sign of the Zodiac called 
Aries, while on either side of the broad steps 
leading to the portico were lambs lying at 
rest. 

“I am sorry to be the first to leave you,” 
said Harold, “but I am strongly attracted 
this way.” 

“ Really, are youT’ exclaimed lone. “I 
don’t feel attracted toward it in the least, 
and I should think I would, loving you as I 
do.” 

“Not at all! Not at all!” responded the 
Brother. “That has nothing to do with it.” 

“Well, good-bye, we will soon join you in 
the temple,” they cried as they walked to- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


123 


ward the second entrance. Over this door 
they saw the head of a bull and the second 
sign of the Zodiac called Taurus, while two 
ferocious-looking bulls stood on either side 
of the entrance. No one seemed inclined to 
pass through here. 

Over the third entrance they saw the 
carved figures of The Twins symbolizing 
the third sign, Gemini, but all passed by. 

As they approached the next door, how- 
ever, lone said, “I feel decidedly attracted 
this way,” and entered the door over 
which was to be seen the Crab, symbolical of 
the fourth sign, Cancer. 

As lone passed through the doorway, the 
Princess said, “I wonder what sign will at- 
tract me.” 

“I think you will like Virgo best,” re- 
plied the Brother, and so it proved, for they 
all passed the fifth door over which they saw 
the Lion and when they neared the sixth en- 
trance, that of Virgo, represented by a beau- 
tiful carved figure of a virgin, the Princess 
said, “You are right, Brother, if this is 


124 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


Virgo, for I want to enter here, so good- 
bye.’' 

After leaving Virgo, they passed the door 
over which was seen the scales or balance 
representing the seventh sign, Libra; the 
one over which a huge serpent was curled, 
representing the eighth sign, Scorpio, one 
over which was to be seen the Archer, with 
his bow and arrow, the ninth sign, Sagitta- 
rius, then past Capricornus, symbolized by 
the Goat, on to the eleventh sign, Aquarius, 
the Water-Bearer. Here the Prince paused. 
“This is my sign,” he said, “for it is the 
first I have felt drawn toward.” 

“You are right,” replied the Brother. 
“It is yours and I will enter with you and 
see what the others think of their respective 
signs. You have made the complete round 
of the signs with the exception of the 
twelfth, Pisces, which is symbolized by the 
Fishes.” 

“We are glad to see you at last, Prince,” 
Harold cried. “We thought perhaps you 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


125 


were hard to please and could not find a sign 
to suit you.” 

“Oh, no,” he replied, “but I had to almost 
complete the circle before I found where I 
belonged.” 

“Now,” said the Brother, “I will tell you 
in a few words some of your inclinations, ac- 
cording to your signs, but you must remem- 
ber that these will be greatly modified or 
accentuated as the case may be, according 
to the position which different planets held 
at the hour of your births. It would take 
too long to calculate planetary positions and 
give you an exact reading of your future, 
so I will confine myself to what the birth 
sign shows for each. I will commence with 
Mrs. Fredericks.” 

“Oh! Oh!” laughed lone, “For mercy’s 
sake don’t call me Mrs. It sounds so grown 
up and queer. Please call me lone.” 

“Very well then, lone. Being born under 
the sign Cancer which belongs to the water 
division you will largely partake of the na- 
ture of that element and will be changeable 


126 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


and restless, having many ups and downs in 
fortune and position, also dangers espec- 
ially of captivity. Journeys or voyages are 
certain to be frequent and long. You are 
frequently in danger from falls or hurts 
from horses, even wounds by human hands 
are to be feared. As to your inclinations 
you are gifted with a fertile imagination 
and you delight in strange scenes and in ad- 
venture. You can easily adapt yourself to 
both places and people, the friendship and 
attachment of others is an imperative need 
of your nature. You are discreet and in- 
dependent and very capable in a variety of 
ways. As the Moon has great influence over 
the tides, so too it will strongly influence 
you, causing you to feel elated and happy 
then correspondingly gloomy and depressed. 
But the strongest characteristic of this sign 
is the sympathy it inspires and the love for 
home and children. You are very intuitive 
and can be governed by love rather than 
ruled by fear. You are impatient of con- 
trol and have little sympathy or liking for 



THEY WERE SOON GLIDING THROUGH CANAL AFTER CANAL 

(p. 128) 





















































ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


127 


narrow, conventional people, while very 
fond of the beautiful whether in nature or 
in art, having decidedly artistic tastes. Your 
astral colors are green and russet brown. 
Your jewels, the emerald and black onyx.” 

“But you have not told me any of my 
faults,” said lone. 

“These I never tell with this kind of a 
reading. I only tell them when I give the 
influence of the planets.” 

“Mercury read Harold’s horoscope, so he 
can’t have his told again but we should like 
to hear what you can tell the Princess,” said 
lone. 

“Very well! She is modest, reticent and 
must be well known to he well understood as 
she keeps her talents in the background and 
never obtrudes them upon people. She is an 
exceptionally good nurse as her hands pos- 
sess and impart a soothing, magnetic influ- 
ence. She is kind and agreeable in company 
and very confiding where affection is given. 
She naturally inspires the confidence of her 
friends and will be the recipient of many se- 


128 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

crets which she will loyally keep. She is 
well endowed mentally, is ingenious and 
even-tempered, not easily angered but rea- 
sonable and just in her disposition. Long 
voyages in search of wealth or in connection 
with property in foreign countries, are indi- 
cated. Frequent changes of residence are 
shown, and residences or property in two 
places. A goodly share of this world’s goods 
will fall to her share, for her symbol the 
Virgin or the Gleaner promises much. With 
thrift and an economical nature she com- 
bines an almost clairvoyant power of dis- 
crimination and foresight. She must be 
known to be appreciated.” 

After giving these short readings, the 
Brother asked if they would partake of 
some light refreshments, assuring them that 
if they did not like what was served they 
could not but be pleased with the beautiful 
scene which would be laid before them. 

They gladly assented and he quickly led 
them from the Temple to the water’s edge 
where lay a magnificent gondola which they 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


129 


entered and in which they were soon glid- 
ing through canal after canal until at last 
they shot out from under a low hanging bal- 
cony into a Court of Honor, lighted by myri- 
ads upon myriads of colored lamps and 
found themselves surrounded by dozens and 
dozens of other gondolas floating or at rest 
while their occupants, leaning back in grace- 
ful poses, listened to the most sublime 
music mortal ears had ever heard. The mu- 
sicians sat in beautiful boat-shaped baskets 
made of flowers and suspended in air by 
most beautiful, silken balloons that floated 
overhead carrying various colored lamps 
and giving the scene the appearance of hun- 
dreds of fireflies flitting here and there. 

In the center of this Court of Honor was 
an island on which was a pavilion of pecu- 
liar but beautiful design where refreshments 
were served. This Court was so large that 
the magnificent buildings that surrounded it 
were seen but faintly, which added greatly 
to the scene as they seemed wrappd in a 
bluish purple mist, with only a white column 


130 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


showing here and there lit by the reflection 
of some colored light. Here one saw a pink 
fluted column half wreathed in mist; there 
another glistening with a pale, green color, 
while in the cool depths of the water on 
which they were floating could be seen re- 
flections of the entire scene as in a mirror. 

Golden statues of females holding torches 
in their upraised arms lit this gloriously 
beautiful court at regular intervals; broad 
steps led to the water’s edge at the gondola 
landings, while magnificent colossal statues 
of animals on broad pedestals stood as if 
guarding the waterways. 

“Oh! how beautiful!” they all exclaimed 
in tones of subdued ecstacy. 

After they had feasted their eyes upon this 
view and had listened to the divine strains 
of music that were wafted to them on gent- 
lest breezes, the Brother gave a signal to 
the gondolier to take them to the island. 
While seated here he asked many questions 
about Earth and seemed greatly interested 
in what they related. Then he told them 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


131 


what great changes had taken place since he 
had lived there, but what astonished them 
most was that he had been an astrologer on 
the lost island of Atlantis, and that he had 
been on top of a high tower when the island 
was submerged. “ There has never been or 
ever will be such magnificent men and 
women as lived then,” concluded the 
Brother, “for so much sin and disease has 
crept into the world that it has destroyed 
the race physically and morally to a great 
extent.” 

Presently the old man spoke again. 

“Have you heard of ambrosia that the 
gods lived upon? Well, I am going to offer 
you some of it with some of our wafers.” 

After tasting the ambrosia lone said, “It 
tastes like the honey from a flower wet with 
dew and has the bouquet of rose and violets, 
while it makes one feel as if every drop of 
blood in him was a living cell of life and 
joy.” 

“I don’t wonder the gods were so power- 
ful,” said Harold, “if they lived on this nec- 


132 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

tar, for it certainly is the most delicious 
thing I ever tasted.” 

This praise greatly pleased the Brother. 
“Look in the west,” he said, pointing his 
finger to indicate where the west was, up 
among the clouds. 

They looked and then caught their breath. 
Forming a background to this beautiful 
Court of Honor was what appeared to be 
the lights of an Aurora Borealis while 
spanning it all was a rainbow of dazzling 
brightness. 

“When these lights appear,” said Mer- 
cury, “it is a signal that I must return to 
my island home shortly and as I want you to 
see the Milky Way and several independ- 
ent islands we have in space I think we had 
best bid adieu to the Brother and hasten 
on.” With many hand grasps and fare- 
wells they bade the Brother good-bye and 
once more floated off into the blue ether, 
wrapped in their magic robes. 


CHAPTER XII. 


The Sun’s Satellite Island was most 
glorious to behold, being bathed in dancing 
sunbeams which twirled in and around ev- 
erything and threw a veil of splendor over 
all. This was called the Isle of Gold, as it 
looked like one gigantic ball of that precious 
metal when seen from afar. Gold mines 
abounded, formed as it seemed of petrified 
sunbeams. The flowers and leaves of plants 
and trees opened and shut at the rising and 
setting of the Sun as do the lotus and mari- 
gold. The birds too, sang at sunrise to her- 
ald the coming of the messenger of day. A 
great many large animals were seen here, 
such as the lion, wolf, bear, bull, and ox. 
The people were broad-minded, whole- 


134 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

souled, and cheerful, their one aim in life 
being to make others happy. 

From the Sun Island they went to the is- 
land under the Moon, an island locked in the 
grip of perpetual slumber. What a con- 
trast they found! It was like going from 
life to death. It had been struck by a blight- 
ing blast and everything had been turned 
to stone; even the trees, birds, and beasts 
were petrified, although they had retained 
their natural colors. No one lived here and 
the only persons seen were visitors from 
other islands, and these were generally of a 
melancholy, despondent turn of mind, and 
they moved about like ghosts, in shroud-like 
white robes. 

After our travelers had visited all of the 
planets’ Satellite Islands, lone said: 

“Why! I never thought of it before, but 
if all of the planets have satellite or tribu- 
tary islands the Earth must, also.” 

“You are right,” said Mercury. “Earth 
has its Satellite Islands but instead of one 
it has many, and they revolve around the 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


135 


Earth from east to west. Opposite each zone 
out in space revolves an island correspond- 
ing in temperature and in vegetation to the 
zone it represents and all of these are con- 
nected with the earth by rainbow bridges 
which appear and disappear as there are 
souls that wish to pass over to any of them. 

“The passport to these islands is a pure 
heart full of love and sympathy for every- 
thing that lives and breathes. None other 
can pass over the frail rainbow bridges to 
these islands which are called the 4 Isles of 
the Blest.’ Many people have seen these 
rainbow bridges when they have been 
spanned for the passage of a soul to one of 
the islands but they have not known that in- 
stead of the pot of gold, which children have 
been told was to be found at the other end, 
there was one of the most beautiful, peace- 
ful, quiet islands that ever floated in space. 
On the one opposite the Temperate Zone 
spirits live that prefer that temperature, 
while those who prefer cold weather go to 
the island opposite the Frigid Zone, and so 


136 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


on, for there is a climate suited to every 
taste, and because of this every one is happy 
and contented, being in a congenial atmos- 
phere which is conducive to joy and con- 
tentment. 

“No growling over the weather such ‘as 
is heard on Earth, is ever indulged in here. 
Spirits always live with those who are con- 
genial and have tastes similar to their own, 
so no quarreling is ever heard, neither are 
divorces ever necessary. 

“The most desirable place of all is that 
island opposite and tributary to the Tem- 
perate Zone, for here everything is temper- 
ate like the climate, neither too hot nor yet 
too cold. The inhabitants are high spirited, 
joyous, and happy, being employed from 
morning till night in making others happy. 

“Deceit, lying, stealing, and anger are all 
unknown here, so you see, it is very appro- 
priately named The Isle of the Blessed,” 
concluded Mercury. 

By this time they had reached Do-as-you- 
Please Land. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


137 


“What queer-looking people and houses 
they have here!” said lone. “No two per- 
sons are dressed alike nor are there two 
houses the same size or color. There is a 
queer-looking house over there and no two 
sides are painted the same color.” 

‘ 6 Oh ! goodness ! look at that funny hat that 
woman is wearing. It is like a small parasol 
with the stick cut off and when she enters 
a building she pulls a string and it shuts 
up,” said the Princess. 

“Yes,” answered lone, “but look at that 
woman with the laced-in waist, high-heeled 
slippers and huge bustle and panniers. She 
is talking to that tall, slim woman with flat 
chest and clothes made almost skin tight. 
Why do the inhabitants of this land dress 
so differently?” asked lone. 

“Because this is the Land of Do-As-You- 
Please and every one dresses according to 
his or her particular idea of comfort or 
beauty. Come and I will show you some of 
the queerest homes you ever looked at.” 

They were loth to leave the queer-looking, 


138 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


peculiar people even to see their more pecul- 
iar houses, but finally started to walk down 
the principal residence street. They saw 
children dressed in the funniest clothes that 
mortal mind ever thought of or designed. 
Some had rubber suits so that if it rained or 
they fell in the water they would not get wet. 
Others were dressed in silk, satin and laces 
or Little Lord Fauntleroy styles. Still others 
were bare-footed with only a calico slip for 
a dress. Some of the mothers had their hair 
done up high on the head or in a mass of 
curls and puffs, others wore it parted in the 
middle and brushed so smoothly that a fly 
alighting upon it would slip and break 
its neck. But the houses ! How queer and 
quaint they were built after original de- 
signs of the owners. One, for instance, a 
yellow frame with white trimmings had one 
large long room on the ground floor with a 
high square tower on one corner, four 
stories high, with steps from the outside. 
This we called the Light-House. 

“Well, of all homely houses this is the 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


139 


homeliest !” said Harold. “I wonder what 
they do in rainy weather with the steps on 
the outside !” 

The man who lived next door evidently 
believed the only way to build a house was 
to have all the rooms on the ground floor so 
as to do away with climbing stairs. 

The next man had few windows and small 
ones at that, seeming to like a cool, dark 
house; while his next door neighbor de- 
lighted in light and windows and had so 
many that his house was called the glass 
house ; and so on, and so on. One liked one 
thing, another liked its opposite and each 
built as he pleased. 

The grounds surrounding these houses 
were quite as characteristic of different 
tastes as the houses. Some yards were laid 
out in set flower-beds, others with the flow- 
ers running wild and untrained while still 
others had not a flower or shrub to break 
the even roll of the grass-sown lawn. 

Some of the people had their meals served 
three times a day, some four times, and some 


140 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


only twice. Some went to bed with the 
chickens and got up with the Sun while oth- 
ers went to bed at Sunrise, after a night of 
merry-making or dancing. Some believed 
in study, others in passing the time as best 
one can only looking out for the fun of the 
moment; while still others thought only of 
the future ; and, as there are no Mrs. Grun- 
dys, each one did as he pleased and no un- 
pleasant or unkind remarks were made. 

All the inhabitants attend strictly to their 
own business and let others do the same. 

“ After all, then, these queer people living 
in their quaint houses have one custom which 
it would be well for our Earth people to 
emulate ,’ ’ said the Prince, in which all the 
rest of the party laughingly acquiesced. 


CHAPTER X£EI. 


To the east of the North Star our travel- 
ers saw a beautiful rose-tinted island and, 
on consulting Mercury, found it to be the 
Isle of Candy. On it everything was com- 
posed of sweets of some kind. Chocolate 
took the place of soil, while the benches in 
the parks were made of twisted molasses 
candy. Soda waters of different shades and 
color filled the fountains and looked beauti- 
ful as well as inviting as they sparkled in 
the sunlight. The summer-houses, were 
made of peanut candy representing spotted 
stone, and the lovely little pagodas through- 
out the park were of white paste all fluted 
and carved. The very gravel and walks 
were made of mixed candies resembling dif- 
ferent colored pebbles. 


142 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

In the very centre of the island was a 
marvelous castle of sparkling rock candy 
while its water-pipes ran lemonade, wine 
and sparkling champagne. A lovely rose- 
bush clambered over its white porch and 
on this bush were beautiful pink roses all 
of candy. This castle was situated on a 
knoll that sloped to a miniature lake of clear 
mineral water while on its surface floated 
tiny canoes of sassafras and cinnamon bark. 
On the same lake were trim little steamers 
made of cream candy with striped pepper- 
mint sticks for smoke-stacks. On the banks 
of this lake were candied violets and crystal- 
ized sour-grass. Everything to be seen both 
far and near was a perfect imitation of some 
natural object. There were candy animals 
and birds in the park and, had you break- 
fasted in the castle, you would have been 
served with candy mutton-chops and candy 
eggs on candy toast. 

“Did you ever see anything so perfectly 
sweet in all your life?” cried the girls in 
chorus. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


143 


“No, we never did since it is all candy 
and consequently would be sweet,” said 
Harold. 

“This must be where most of the Christ- 
mas candies come from,” said the Princess. 

“I wish I could carry away that cherry 
tree,” said lone. “See how perfect it is, its 
bark of brown maple sugar, its leaves of 
pistache candy and its fruit the real cherries 
candied. My ! but they are good, just taste 
one.” 

After eating all they cared for and drink- 
ing at the different fountains, they went to 
the edge of the island and then flew away to- 
ward what looked like a large amethyst. 
Mercury explained that it was “The Isle of 
Toys.” 

As they approached this island they saw, 
bordering its coast line, a diminutive city set 
on seven hills like ancient Rome. At its 
wharfs lay beautiful little steamers, while 
tiny sailboats went speeding by, sailing 
through the blue ether as smoothly as if on 
the water. They saw also, hurrying crowds 


144 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


of the prettiest doll-faced people imaginable. 
And why should they not be pretty and look 
like dolls when they tv ere dolls, only living 
ones that could both walk and talk. Dolls of 
all kinds and conditions, Mercury explained, 
were the only inhabitants of this Island of 
Toys. 

Back from the coast, in the interior of the 
isle, lived the large dolls ; in the mountains, 
the Indian dolls ; in the hot »part, the Afri- 
can dolls ; in the cold part, the Esquimaux ; 
in the tea-growing district, the Chinese, and 
so on, for every race of man was represented 
by these tiny creatures who lived, worked, 
and talked exactly as these races of people 
do on Earth. In fact, here was a good place 
to study the different peoples of the globe 
for, as lone said, “Here you have the whole 
world in a nut-shell.’ ’ 

The dolls that landed from the little 
steamers at the wharfs represented as many 
different nationalities as one sees crossing 
the renowned bridge at Constantinople; 
the one where rumor says one can see every 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


145 


nationality on the globe pass every hour in 
the day. 

“lone, do look at that Turkish doll with 
his baggy, yellow satin trousers, red fez, and 
long pipe!” said the Princess. 

“Yes, but he is not half as cute as that 
Chinaman with the long pig-tail and paper 
umbrella, who is fanning himself as he 
walks,” she answered. 

“I feel like a giant when I look down 
upon these tiny people,” said Harold. “I 
am afraid we may step on some of them. 
The largest one I have yet seen does not ex- 
ceed six inches in height.” 

“There live on the farther shore of this 
island dolls that are as large as a two-year- 
old child,” explained Mercury. 

“See the dolls getting into street cars 
and carriages just as we do, when they get 
to the end of the wharf,” said the Princess. 

“And observe those express wagons 
loaded with trunks and the drays with mer- 
chandise, while the Clydesdale horses are 
no bigger than kittens,” said the Prince. 


146 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

“ Listen,” said Harold, “I thought I 
heard a locomotive whistle.” 

“So you did,” replied Mercury. “Look 
to your left and you will see the most com- 
plete little depot, with waiting-rooms, lunch 
counters, ticket offices, etc., facsimiles of 
those on Earth.” 

“To be sure,” exclaimed Harold, “and 
there is a turn-table turning an engine at 
this moment, with little men working the 
switches.” 

“Had I seen this place when I was a little 
youngster,” said the Prince, “I should have 
had to stop to play with these fascinating lit- 
tle trains, especially those bound for the 
stock-yards, loaded with cows and horses no 
larger than the animals that furnish a good- 
sized Noah’s Ark.” 

“Let us float over the residence part and 
see what the houses look like inside and how 
these people live,” suggested lone. 

“Suppose we follow this little lady who 
has just come out of that dry-goods store 
and entered her brougham with a coachman 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


147 


and footman on the box. The brougham 
drawn by the bang-tailed bay horses,” sug- 
gested the Prince. 

4 ‘ Just the thing,” cried lone. 

“No,” said Harold, “you girls go on while 
the Prince, Mercury and I go to the thea- 
tre.” 

“Very well. We must be off before we 
lose sight of our little lady’s brougham. 
See you later, au revoir !” cried lone. 

Away went the girls, while the boys en- 
tered the miniature theatre which they were 
only able to do because of the power of their 
magic robes. 

Presently the little brougham turned into 
a beautiful park where there were winding 
drives, fountains, and flowers everywhere, 
and stopped in front of a lovely palace of 
white marble. The footman opened the 
door of the brougham, the little lady 
alighted, passed up the broad steps to the 
front entrance and disappeared within the 
exquisitely carved doors which were opened, 
by a tiny butler in quaint livery. 


148 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

With a feeling of disappointment, the 
girls saw her disappear from view. “Oh, 
isn’t she too tiny, sweet, and lovely for 
words!” exclaimed the Princess. 

“How I wish we were not so large and 
could go inside to see how her palace is fur- 
nished,” said lone. 

“You have forgotten that our magic robes 
can make us large or small, as well as invis- 
ible,” replied the Princess. 

“To be sure I had. Let us wish ourselves 
the size of the little lady and that we may 
float through one of her windows and be able 
to explore the palace unobserved and undis- 
turbed.” 

Once inside, the girls found themselves 
in a marble tessellated hall with walls lined 
with ancestral portraits and coats of mail. 
On either side of the hall were rooms 
through the portiers of which they caught 
glimpses of rugs of Oriental splendor, bro- 
caded-satin furniture in solid gold frames, 
statuettes of Parian marble, while roses and 
white hyacinths were everywhere. At the 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


149 


farther end of the hall was the dining-room 
with its tapestried walls, old oaken furni- 
ture, crystal chandeliers, dainty silver, and 
sparkling cut glass. 

“ Isn’t this magnificent,” exclaimed both 
girls in a voice of wonder, “and just as if 
we were looking through the wrong end of 
our opera glasses.” 

They next ascended a lovely stairway and 
entered a boudoir with rose pink furnish- 
ings. Before one of the many miniature 
mirrors with which its walls were lined, sat 
our little lady while a maid was busy in 
brushing her fluffy golden hair. The ad- 
joining room was a nursery. Here in a 
pretty baskenet, all lace and frills, slept a 
tiny, rosy-cheeked baby no larger than one’s 
little finger ; while on the floor near by sat 
a small boy doll building a block house, and 
as he played his nurse read to him from a 
diminutive Mother Goose Book. 

“Well, I declare! They have Mother 
Goose even in Toy Land!” exclaimed lone. 

They next descended to the kitchen where 


150 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

they saw the little cook making pies no 
larger than one’s thumb nail and these she 
baked in a cute little range as perfect in its 
mechanism as our larger ones. 

“I suppose we must be going or the boys 
will be waiting for us,” said the Princess, 
“but I should enjoy remaining much 
longer.” 

As they floated away they heard the tones 
of a piano, for the little daughter of the 
house was taking her music lesson, while a 
Canary bird in its golden-wired cage was 
trying to outvie her by filling the air with 
sweet, flute-like tremulous tones. 

They found the boys awaiting them and 
were soon floating along together. They saw 
little farmers plowing the fields; little mil- 
lers tending the mill and putting the snowy 
flour into sacks; tiny cattle grazing in the 
pastures, lying in the shade to rest, or stand- 
ing knee-deep in the sparkling streams to 
cool their feet, while on the hill-tops the tiny 
windmills spun in this and in that direction 
with the shifting of the wind. 



ALL THE CHORUSES ARE HEAVENLY AND HARMONIOUS 

(p. 178) 







ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


151 


‘ ‘ Isn’t this the cutest isle you ever saw? 
There is a toy representative of everything 
we have on Earth even to threshing machines 
and automobiles,” said lone. 

“It certainly is a most enchanting place. 
These wee people go about their business as 
if they were large men and women,” said 
the Prince. 

“Yes, and they seem as independent as 
Punch or a pig on ice in the way they go 
about it,” answered Harold. 

“What are you going to show us next, 
Mercury, dear, in this storehouse of space?” 
questioned the Princess. 

“I think I shall take you to the island 
where all the animals come when they die.” 

“Oh, do!” said lone. “Perhaps I can 
then see the pets I used to love.” 

“Very well, when I say three, all wish 
yourselves on the island called Isle of Pet 
Animals and we will be there.” 


CHAPTER XIV. 


Grazing on the sunny hillsides, lying 
asleep under the shade trees, or frolicking 
about the meadows they saw, literally, the 
lion and the lamb lying down together, for 
on this peaceful island, where no cruel man’s 
gun had ever been fired or angry master’s 
whip been used, animals of all kinds lived as 
peacefully as if belonging to the same happy 
family. 

The island was very large and all changes 
of climate were common to it as well as 
every kind of animal known to man, from 
the polar bear of the frigid zone to the hip- 
popotamus of torrid climes, but the most 
wonderful thing about all these animals was 
that they could talk, though each had a lan- 
guage characteristic of its particular breed 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


153 


as well as a language common to all, so that 
each could make his wants or needs known 
to any and all about him. 

When our young people heard this they 
were delighted beyond expression. “I was 
never so glad of any one thing in all my life 
as to know that a time has come when ani- 
mals can talk and make themselves under- 
stood,” said lone. “I have always felt that 
they could and would some day because the 
expression of their eyes is so intelligent, and 
from the pathetic looks they have often 
given us, I have been sure they knew our 
minds and comprehended our troubles even 
though they could not tell us so. ” 

“Let us show ourselves to them without 
our magic robes, and see if any of our old- 
time pets are here and will recognize us,” 
said the Prince. 

“Bow- wow- wow!” barked a dog behind 
lone and turning she saw a noble Saint Ber- 
nard with eyes beaming with love and tail 
wagging with joy. 


154 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


“Oh, Hero! you old darling, how are 
you?” cried lone. 

“I am very well, I thank you,” he replied. 

Hearing her old playfellow answer in a 
deep bass voice came almost as a shock to 
lone even though she had just been told that 
all animals on this island talked. 

“Why are you so astonished to hear me 
speak?” he cried. “You used constantly to 
say to me ‘ Speak, Hero, speak, I know you 
can talk if you try!’ ” 

“Yes ; I know, Hero, but now that you do 
talk, it seems strange and you must give me 
time to get used to it. Hid you always un- 
derstand everything I said to you?” 

“Indeed I did, and it nearly broke my 
heart when you asked me to speak and I 
could not. If you will come with me I will 
show you around and you can see other pets 
you used to have on Earth.” 

When they turned to go they saw her In- 
dian pony that had been her almost constant 
companion while with the Indians. 

“And here is Whistle!” she exclaimed, 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


155 


patting her pony, so named because he made 
the wind whistle by as he ran, he was so fleet- 
footed. “ You dear, dear pony. I am too re- 
joiced for words to see you again, for I 
never expected to lay eyes on you again.” 

“All I can say, Sweet-Face, is that I am 
delighted to know that you escaped from the 
Indians, for I heard that they were going 
to force you to marry Mud Face when he re- 
turned from his hunting trip, the trip on 
which Mr. Harold killed him. I had made up 
my mind to run away with you and try to 
reach the nearest settlement before I would 
see you married to that cruel fiend, even if 
you thought I was going crazy for not obey- 
ing the pull on my reins. We ponies as well 
as other animals are often misunderstood 
when we try in our own dumb way to help 
our masters and mistresses, for they cannot 
always interpret our actions and signals, so 
often think us disobedient when we are 
really trying to serve them.” 

“You dearest darling!” exclaimed lone, 
“to think that you were trying to plan a way 


156 


ON A LARK TO THE* PLANETS. 


to save me and I did not even know that they 
intended marrying me.” 

“I knew you did not, but I overheard it 
by chance, as I grazed peacefully about 
while listening to Mud Face and Old Heron 
Feather talk, wrapped in their blankets 
near the camp-fire. ? ’ 

“Oh! here come my pet doves,” she cried, 
as a flock of white pigeons alighted on her 
head, shoulders and outstretched hands. 
“You beauties! Where did you come from 
and how do you like it up here where you 
never need to have a fear of being stoned or 
shot 1 ?” 

Looking up, she saw Harold riding off on 
a pet horse he used to own, while the Prince 
was petting an elephant he used to ride in 
processions in Siam. The Princess had her 
arms around the neck of a gazelle and all 
this time Mercury stood near smiling to see 
them all so happy. 

“Oh mercy! here comes a bear out of the 
woods,” cried the Princess as she ran to- 
ward the Prince for protection. But Mer- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


157 


cury quieted her fears by telling her that it 
was perfectly harmless as were all the rest 
of the animals here, even to the usually fe- 
rocious Bengal tigers. 

“I am sorry, but am afraid I must hurry 
you,” said Mercury, “if you wish to visit all 
the places yet to be seen.” 

‘'‘Oh! do we have to go?” said lone. “I 
am so sorry to leave my old pets so soon. I 
would dearly like to take them back to 
Earth with me.” 

“So do I feel sorry to part with them so 
soon,” said the Prince; “but it is a great 
comfort to know that they all live again and 
that we shall see them again some day.” 

Then away they all flew. Their next stop- 
ping place, Mercury told them, was to be the 
Frost King’s Isle. 

Directly over the North Pole is the island 
of the Frost King, glistening in the sun like 
countless diamonds, one mass of pure white 
snow, frost and ice. Every tree is draped 
with lace-like festoons of frost and ice; 
every river is clear as crystal and frozen 


158 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

hard; while the Ice King’s palace is built of 
blocks of glistening ice. Before the entrance 
are conchant lions of solid ice. The carving 
round doors and windows, like chiseled 
marble apples, pears, and grapes, was all 
done by Jack Frost. The people of the Isle 
were dressed in white furs. The only ani- 
mals were white polar bears, white spitz 
dogs, and white birds. The combined effect 
of all this dazzling white was beautiful as a 
dream, and all was greatly enhanced when 
colored lights were seen twinkling under the 
snow-capped windows. 

As our travelers sped past, lone said, 
4 4 This is the coldest region we ever saw, now 
please show us the hottest one you have.” 

4 4 Very well,” Mercury replied. 4 4 Wish 
yourselves over the equator on the Isle of 
Fire and you will find yourselves in a 
warmer place than you have even dreamed 
of.” Almost before this wish had been 
formed they found themselves gasping for 
breath on the Fire Island. 

All around them were bonfires, while in 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 159 

the distance a volcano belched forth fire and 
hot lava. The streams were liquid fire, with 
blue flames rising from them, and the shores 
of the rivers were red hot sand. They did not 
tarry long on this Isle for their human lungs 
could not endure the heat for long and they 
begged to be taken away before they suffo- 
cated. 

The next place they visited was the Isle 
of Vinegar, so named because everything 
there was sour. The faces of all the people 
looked wrinkled, sour and yellow from eat- 
ing so many sour things and drinking noth- 
ing but lemonade and lime juice. After tak- 
ing a drink of lemonade without any sugar 
in it (for sugar is unknown in this land) our 
young friends started on their way for the 
Milky Way. 

“1 am glad that people on Earth like 
more than one thing. It is much nicer hav- 
ing a variety of things, sweet, sour, bitter 
and medium than all one kind. After all, 
medium things and people are generally 
best. Those who are not too gentle, too 


160 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


cross, too learned, too stupid, too lively, too 
quiet but are a combination of each and all, 
these are the most congenial people to live 
with,” sagely remarked lone. 


CHAPTER XV. 

“We will now go to the Milky Way, that 
broad stream of sparkling stars that sweeps 
through the heavens like a mighty river and 
on either side of which are reared the pal- 
aces of the gods, goddesses, and heroes of 
Greece and Rome,” said Mercury. 

“What! You don’t mean to tell us that 
the gods and goddesses of old live here?” 
exclaimed lone. 

“Certainly I do; and they live in regal 
splendor as of yore. What is more, you are 
going to be in time to see them start on their 
yearly journey to Mount Olympus. The 
procession they form is considered one of 
the grandest sights of the heavens and one 
which none of the planet-people would vol- 
untarily miss seeing. The gods and god- 


162 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


desses, heroes and heroines sweep down the 
Milky Way in magnificent floats or barges 
of gold and silver incrusted with precious 
stones, while those looking on line the shores 
or sit in boats at anchor, for no one is al- 
lowed the freedom of the Milky Way while 
the procession is passing,” said the guide. 

“Oh, what a spectacle it will be!” said the 
Princess. 

“It certainly is one of the most gor- 
geously magnificent pageants I have ever 
witnessed,” said Mercury. 

“Are you sure we shall be there in time^” 
asked lone. “I would not miss it for 
worlds.” 

“Yes, we can easily reach there if we do 
not tarry on our way.” 

“Well, we will pass things by even if we 
have to return to see them later,” said Har- 
old. 

“All ready then. One, two, three, and we 
are off for a cloud bank that juts out into the 
Milky Way making a fine point for us to 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


163 


view the entire procession as it turns the 
bend,” said the guide. 

In less time than it took them to count one, 
two, three, they were at their destination 
and were barely seated when the Princess 
exclaimed, “Sh! I hear strains of music,” 
and looking in the direction from which the 
sounds came, they saw a beautiful float glid- 
ing smoothly along. On it were standing 
twelve youths and twelve maidens playing 
upon golden harps and horns. They were 
crowned with roses, while violets and myrtle 
were profusely festooned about them. The 
youths had only a spotted leopard skin 
thrown across their shoulders while the 
maidens were attired in filmy white slips 
with belts of blue ribbon. 

Following them came Jupiter in all his 
royal splendor like some conquering king or 
hero. His jeweled chariot was drawn by 
four milk-white horses ; his robes were royal 
purple lined with spun gold and bordered 
with precious gems. On his head he wore a 
helmet of gold on which with outstretched 


164 : 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


wings rested an eagle— a bird dedicated to 
him by the ancients. 

Juno, wife of Jupiter and Queen of the 
Heavens, came next, attended by her faith- 
ful messenger, Iris, with wings of gold and 
robe of rainbow hues. She hovered at the 
side of her mistress who rode in a chariot 
drawn by peacocks, her favorite fowls. 

Mars followed in a chariot of burnished 
brass drawn by fiery horses. He was dressed 
as a warrior armed for battle with red 
breast-plate, and shield upraised. On his 
war-bonnet perched a woodpecker w 7 hile at 
his feet crouched a wolf. Both the wood- 
pecker and wolf are sacred to Mars. 

Twelve white pigeons heralded the ap- 
proach of Venus in her pink-tinted shell- 
chariot emblazoned with emeralds, pearls, 
and corals, and drawn by snow-white swans, 
which were dedicated to her by the ancients. 
Her robe was of palest green, sprinkled with 
pearls and embroidered to represent sea- 
foam. A magic girdle encircled her waist. 
In her hands she carried violets and maiden- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


165 


hair ferns. At her side stood a basket of 
pomegranates, sweet pears and figs. As the 
chariot passed, one could scent the perfume 
of thyme, myrtle, and musk, perfumes es- 
pecially pleasing to her, as was the flavor of 
the fruits at her side. 

Then came Mercury, son of Jupiter and 
messenger of the gods, with winged sandals 
and tortoise-shell lyre. Slung across his 
shoulder was his serpent-entwined wand, 
one touch of which would awaken those who 
slept, or put to sleep those who were awake. 

Minerva, daughter of Jupiter, goddess of 
wisdom and war, and protectress of the ele- 
gant and useful arts, came next. Her barge 
was appropriately decorated with the olive 
branch and fruit. In its bow, half hidden, 
were owls (birds of wisdom), and cocks, 
which were sacred to her memory. On the 
corners of her barge were golden plows and 
rakes, emblems of agriculture; while here 
and there were also spinning wheels and dis- 
taffs, emblems of the useful arts. Her war- 
like tastes were displayed by her dress, 


166 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


which was a complete suit of armor, the 
breast-plate of which was the head of Me- 
dusa. She carried a golden staff and looked 
magnificently beautiful and strong with 
commanding figure, noble brow, and flashing 
eyes as she stood tall and erect without turn- 
ing her head to right or to left as she floated 
down this silvery stream. 

On Diana’s barge was a miniature cave to 
represent the one in the glade where the 
goddess of the chase and the moon used to 
repair to bathe and refresh herself after the 
hunt. Reposing before the cave were her 
faithful nymphs and all were listening to 
the sweet music Apollo, her twin brother, 
was drawing from his lute. 

Vesta, the goddess of the hearth or home, 
was seated in front of an altar before which 
burned the sacred fire. The barge was fes- 
tooned in myrtle and guided by twelve ves- 
tal virgins. 

Vulcan stood before a fiery furnace in the 
midst of Lotus trees arranged to represent 
a forest. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


167 


Ceres, goddess of fruit and cereals, led two 
oxen yoked to a plow. In her train were 
woven heads of golden wheat; under her 
arm she carried a cornucopia out of which 
poured luscious fruits. 

Neptune’s barge was drawn by sea-horses 
with flowing manes. Their harness was of 
silver, crusted with pearls. Neptune him- 
self, god of the sea, wore a rich mantle em- 
broidered with sea anemones and shells. 
On his head he wore a crown of pearls and 
emeralds while in his right hand he held his 
trident, studded with precious gems gath- 
ered from the depths of ocean. 

Following Neptune came Penelope, spin- 
ning the web which at night she would un- 
ravel, thus representing those who always 
work but never accomplish anything. 

After Penelope rode Bellerophon on his 
celebrated charger, Pegasus, the winged 
horse. 

Then came Atlas bearing the globe upon 
his shoulders. 

And next, Pandora, with her fatal box. 


168 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

Aurora, goddess of dawn, followed, sitting 
in her chariot of gold drawn by pure white 
horses. She was clothed in garments only 
equaled in color and splendor by the tints 
of the Aurora Borealis. 

Following Aurora came Perseus, with 
Minerva’s shield, Pluto’s helmet, and Mer- 
cury’s winged shoes and wand. 

Then Bolus with the contrary winds tied 
up in the hide of an ox; followed by Som- 
nus, god of sleep, smelling a poppy. 

Bacchus, the god of wine, passed with 
overflowing cup in hand and wreath of 
grapes and leaves upon his head. 

And now, Medusa with hair of hissing 
serpents ; Rhea, the goddess of Earth, lead- 
ing a tame tiger to show how she could tame 
the beasts of the forest ; then Flora, the god- 
dess of flowers, scattering a profusion of 
flowers and blossoms as she passed. 

Hercules, incarnation of strength, now 
appeared dressed in a lion’s skin, with its 
head for a helmet. In one hand he carried 
his knotted club, while with the other he led 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


169 


the Arcadian stag with golden antlers and 
brazen feet, which he had caught. Behind 
him came his wife, Hebe, goddess of youth, 
carrying her cup of nectar, ready to wait 
upon the gods, for that was her office. 

Last but not least came Pluto, god of the 
lower world and of the dead. None of the 
goddesses would marry him because it was 
such a gloomy place down in Hades where 
he lived, so one day he kidnapped Proser- 
pine, the lovely daughter of Ceres, and car- 
ried her off to his kingdom. Now he came 
riding along in what appeared to be that 
same chariot drawn by spirited black horses. 
By his side sat the sweet-faced Proserpine, 
Queen of Hades, and at their feet lay Cer- 
berus, his pet dog, a monster with three 
heads and a body covered with snakes in the 
place of hair. On his head, Pluto wore a 
magic helmet which gave him the power of 
becoming invisible at will. 

Thus they came, following each other in 
one continuous line as far as the eye could 
see. 


170 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


Our young people watched them until the 
last one had passed by, then they too passed 
on, in search of other sights and scenes. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


After the procession had passed, Mercury 
turned and said : 

4 4 Well! What do you think of it for a 
spectacular pageant ? ’ 9 

4 4 Think of it?” exclaimed lone, 44 I never 
even dreamed of anything so beautiful .’ 9 

4 4 It even surpasses the royal elephant and 
camel processions of Siam, in which all the 
animals are caparisoned with gold and sil- 
ver and jewels. Until I had seen this won- 
derful procession, I thought nothing could 
surpass that,” said the Princess. 

4 4 You certainly have given us a treat,” 
said the Prince and Harold. 

4 4 Now, I think you would enjoy boarding 
a barge and taking a trip along the Milky 
,Way, visiting some of the strange countries 


172 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


that border it and inspecting some of the 
palaces that line this silvery stream on 
either side.” 

Mercury went to procure a barge for them 
and soon called to them to come down and 
enter it. It was high at the back with a 
raised divan shaded by silken curtains and 
waving palms. The front was high and 
pointed and stood well out of the stream of 
sparkling stars beneath it. Its trimmings 
were of purple and gold which fell over the 
side in graceful festoons. There were seats 
for six, two high carved chairs on the divan, 
resembling seats on a royal throne, while the 
others were beneath the three steps of the 
raised platform. 

Harold and lone insisted upon the Prince 
and Princess occupying the elevated seats 
and impersonating king and queen while 
they would sit beneath them as their loyal 
subjects, but the Prince and Princess would 
not agree to this. 

“But don’t you see,” urged lone, “you 
were to the purple born, while who ever 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


173 


heard of a free-born American citizen occu- 
pying a throne? Besides it would be too 
quiet a proceeding for us and I am sure we 
would jump up at the wrong time or upset a 
chair during an audience if it proved too 
tedious .’ 9 

“You are mistaken,” said the Prince. 
“You could rule by right of judgment and 
strength while you would have me rule be- 
cause of the blood of my ancestors.” 

“Let Mercury decide,” said the Princess. 

“Very well,” he replied, “in that case I 
think Harold and lone should take the 
chairs for we are their guests.” 

“Good for you, Mercury. You always 
say the right thing at the right time,” said 
the Prince. 

So Harold and lone took the carved seats, 
and for fun, wished they were a king and 
queen, so when the Prince, Princess and 
Mercury turned toward them, they were 
speechless with surprise for a moment, for 
instead of two plainly-dressed American 
citizens, they saw two royal personages with 


174 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


golden myrtle crowns on their heads, flow- 
ing robes of velvet, and ermine mantles upon 
their shoulders. 

‘ 4 Well, I declare !” exclaimed the Prince. 
“You two rival all the kings and queens I 
ever saw for beauty and kingly bearing. 
Where is your sceptre?’’ 

Harold held up a golden sceptre in the 
shape of a wand. 

All this time they had been floating along 
on this silent, silvery stream with its myr- 
iads and myriads of silver stars, so tiny and 
closely packed together that they looked like 
molten silver. 

The first country at which they landed 
was called The Land of Peace and Quiet- 
ness. Soft, gentle breezes blow across this 
land, laden with the perfume of thousands 
of flowers. No destroying electric storms 
ever rage here to disturb the peaceful, quiet, 
sunlit days. This is the land where the tired 
people of Earth come to rest and have peace ; 
peace ', everlasting peace, for those who 
choose to stop. Here are those who have had 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


175 


to battle with discord at home and rough 
usage from the world at large and now all 
they ask is to be let alone and to be allowed 
to rest and wander through this blessed 
country, drinking in and enjoying the beau- 
ties and quiet of this blissful land. 

Here the grass is always green, the hills 
wrapped in purple mist over which float 
snowy clouds lit by the sun, while all around 
are shady groves filled with many birds that 
trill and warble until it would seem as if 
their little throats must burst with joyous- 
ness. The silvery streams purr through the 
grassy meadows, or sing a joyous song as 
they tumble over the rocks down the moun- 
tain-side or try to rival the lullaby of the 
willow-boughs swaying to and fro above 
them. 

The flowers never die here but as fast as 
one is plucked another blooms in its place. 
No harsh, loud sounds are ever heard, only 
harmony and melody float out on the air, 
resting and strengthening the nerves of the 


176 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


tired Barth people who come here for peace 
and quiet. 

Just over yonder mountains, further up 
the stream, is the land called The Land of 
J oy. Here everything is hustle and bustle, 
laughter and fun, and wherever one goes he 
meets picnic parties, some riding on hay- 
racks, others in pleasure-boats, while still 
others roll by in open carriages. Brass 
bands and dance music are heard in every 
direction, a decided contrast to the soft, 
plaintive music heard in the Land of Peace. 

Here come the people who never had time 
to enjoy themselves while upon Earth, but 
who constantly longed to go to balls or pic- 
nics in the country, the invalid sister of the 
society girl or the poor seamstress who 
spent her life sewing on the garments of her 
more favored sisters. Every day with the 
rising of the Sun, merry bells announce to 
the inhabitants of this land that another day 
for jolly good fun has commenced. Every 
one on the streets is either whistling or sing- 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


177 


in g, too happy to walk sedately or to keep 
silent. 

“And is there no land of sorrow except 
Hades ?” asked lone. 

“No,” replied Mercury, “there is enough 
sorrow on Earth to supply all the spheres 
were it allowed to pass the air-shed line. 

“Along this stream you will find a land to 
suit every body’s taste, be it a good one. 
I think the land most thickly populated is 
the Land of Music. Such halls and temples 
you never beheld and all are filled with every 
kind of musical instrument that was ever 
invented, while all the choruses are heav- 
enly and harmonious. 

“Would you like to travel farther or 
would you prefer to visit some of the pal- 
aces of the gods and goddesses ?” asked Mer- 
cury. 

“I think we would like to explore that 
castle set on yonder high cliff, that looks like 
' a castle on the Rhine, only a thousand times 
more beautiful,” said lone. 

“Oh! that one belongs to Jupiter and he 


178 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

always gives feasts when he returns from 
his pilgrimage to Mount Olympus. Would 
you like to return to the Land of Quietness 
and Peace and wait until the day of the 
feast and then attend it? You have been 
traveling pretty fast and might like to rest, 
or I should say change, for no one who pos- 
sesses a magic robe knows what fatigue is.” 

“I believe that would be very pleasant,” 
said lone and they all returned to the Land 
of Peace to wait for the feast. Here they 
threw themselves in hammocks under the 
shade of the trees, lazily listening the while 
to the songs of the canaries and nightingales 
overhead in the boughs. Were they hungry, 
all they had to do was to wish for something 
to eat and there spread beside them on a 
pretty, rustic table was a repast, dainty 
enough for an angel and substantial enough 
for a king. 

They spent a day and night here and then 
a swift messenger brought news that Jupiter 
would not return to his castle for a week and 
that the feast had been postponed. 


ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 


179 


When our travelers heard this they were 
greatly disappointed but concluded not to 
await his return. 

The next morning they again boarded the 
barge and commenced floating down the 
Milky Way, admiring the beautiful scenery 
and castles that bordered its shores until 
they came to its extreme northern limit, 
when, chancing to look off toward the North 
Star, they saw, shining with a splendor that 
almost blinded them, what seemed to be a 
colossal human eye surrounded by flashing 
streamers of light that radiated from it in 
all directions. 

“What is it?” they all whispered in awe. 

“You may well ask,” said their guide. 
“That is The All-Seeing Eye. It is placed 
there to remind us that God is in all, through 
all, and back of all these wonders we have 
seen, and also to mark the limit to which a 
human being may travel in this space. Thus 
far and no farther can you go until you have 
passed through the gate of death and become 
immortal. And here,” continued Mercury, 


180 ON A LARK TO THE PLANETS. 

rather sadly, “your journey in the clouds 
must end. As a souvenir, you may keep the 
acorns in which your robes were encased, 
but the robes, I am sorry to say, you must 
leave with me. I will conduct you to your 
Elephant and see you safely started on your 
return journey to Earth, and then I must 
also return to my duties, for my life work is 
not yet finished. ” 

When our friends at last commenced their 
return trip to Earth, Mercury waved his 
hands in adieu, and smiling and repeatedly 
waving, gradually passed out of sight. 

The End. 


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